Examples of Milk Letters to the Editor

Farm fresh milk deserves a chance

Rutland Herald
February 22, 2008

I love farm fresh milk. I love the taste, the freshness, the health benefits (see realmilk.com), and I love being able to give my money directly to our local farmers. For these reasons, I hope that the Farm Fresh Milk Restoration Act will be made into law as soon as possible.

Commodity conventional milk brings approximately $1.82 per gallon to the farmer and commodity organic milk about $2.36 per gallon. Farm fresh milk? $5 to $8 per gallon! Currently our farmers are barred from advertising that they have farm fresh milk available, and they are only allowed to sell less than 25 quarts a day. Let's give them a chance to provide more consumers with the farm fresh milk they want, and get the money they deserve for their hard work.

I hope our Ag Committee at the Statehouse will get this bill moving, starting by taking a closer look at H.616. And I hope that everyone who supports family farmers will speak with their representative and tell them how important this bill is for both farmers and farm fresh milk consumers in Vermont. To find out more about the bill visit ruralvermont.org.

KATE CORRIGAN
Shoreham

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March 12, 2008

Dear Editor,

The Farm Fresh Milk Restoration Act now in the Vermont House of
Representatives is a landmark piece of legislation and a breath of fresh
air for many of Vermont's current and aspiring dairy farmers. This bill
would allow farmers who choose to meet the standards to become certified
to sell fresh milk. They would set the price that they get for their
milk, a truly innovative idea in this industry. This bill would make it
possible for young and new farmers to get started in farming, or add
additional income streams to an existing farm. For farmers, an important
component of this bill is legalizing their ability to make a decent
living by selling their product directly to their customer, rather than
through a 'middle man' - the creamery or milk processor. Current law
limits fresh milk sales to only 24 quarts per day.

The bill is also important to citizens who want to purchase "farm fresh
milk" that has not been pasteurized or homogenized. Some remember the
bottles of milk that still had the cream on top, and long to taste that
fresh, creamy flavor once more. Some find that the benefits of enzymes
and healthy bacteria allow them to digest fresh milk better than
pasteurized milk. Many farm fresh milk lovers are thrilled to be able to
purchase milk directly from the farmer, providing them with a reasonable
price for their product and seeing local farms thrive.

There is some concern about the safety of farm fresh or 'raw' milk. The
farmers who have worked to craft this bill are at the top of the list of
those who are concerned with the safety of their product. For this
reason, they have worked to create a bill that provides standards for
certification that include regular testing of milk, inspection of the
farm by the certification committee, frequent sanitizing of equipment, a
clear label and maintenance of complete customer records.

Passage of this bill could mean a return to profitability for Vermont's
small and mid-sized dairies. It could mean the difference between a
livable wage for farmers and their reliance on 18 hour days and off-farm
jobs to make ends meet. It could return the reality of creamy milk in
your cereal bowl. There are many possibilities, but first we have to get
the bill passed! If this issue gets you excited, please call your
Vermont House Representative, either at home or at the Statehouse in
Montpelier. Leave a message with the Sargent-at-Arms (802-828-2228)
asking for a call back from your rep (they can tell you who that is if
you aren't sure), then tell your rep what it is about this bill that is
important to you. This is democracy in action - your voice can make a
difference to many Vermonters. If you would like more information about
the bill, visit the Rural Vermont website: www.ruralvermont.org

Sincerely,

Rebekah Murchison

Brattleboro 2-goat dairy farmer

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