Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 @@@@@@ I need to get more specific information on raw dairy sales in PA. Should I just call the state dairy office? I tried to look at the website and read the laws but I cannot understand all the legal rubish. My main concern in my area is that there are not certified raw dairies in the western part if the state. I would like to reach out to some small local farmers here and incourage them to sell their milk to the many people who contact me every week. But being small, I know they will not be ready to take the plunge and get certified. So how do we get around that at this point?...legally. WAPF Chapter Leader Pittsburgh @@@@@ Hi, I live in Eastern PA and I assume the laws are the same here. As far as I understand it, you either get certified, do a cow share, or do it illegally. On farm sales are totally illegal and there have been efforts to enforce that, although none of the farmers I know personally have ever experienced any problems. One of my farmer friends got a " scare letter " recently--not addressed to him specifically but a generic letter given to members of some local farmers coop or something. (I just uploaded a photo of the letter to the RawDairy home page.) I actually visited a farmer fairly close to me once who is certified because I was driving by and saw his roadside sign boldly advertising " raw milk " --naturally I had to stop in and learn more! As I recall he didn't seem to find certification to be burdensome and he was happy with his situation. ( I tried a little of his milk, but never went back because I have (illegal) sources who feed less or no grain and have all Jerseys instead of a mixed herd, etc...) (I just uploaded a photo of the roadside sign to the RawDairy home page if anyone's curious.) I've heard that some people in PA are using cow shares successfully, but I don't know any of them personally or any details. My advice is to just go to the farm and buy the milk illegally. Just be sensible and discreet, but above all, " just do it " . You'll be wasting your time contacting a government agency, and it might only put them on the lookout for illegal sales. Besides just having each consumer show up at the farm with glass bottles, you could alternatively have the farmer do a weekly delivery to a third party location, like the home of one of the consumers, for distribution. Large coolers can be used in transit. A key issue is to avoid having bottled milk stored in any area that can be inspected by the folks who handle the farmer's mass market milk permit. This topic makes me **so** angry. Mike SE Pennsylvania The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Thanks ! I have been doing things pretty much as you had suggested. I buy the milk from this illegal farmer and then bring some home for others in my area to pick-up. It has worked out well. I am unsure how to encourage prospect farmers and to convince them to do the same. I guess I will just have to " wing " it and see what they say. I think I have learned enough from my reading to adequately discuss to whole raw milk issue with them. I will let yu'nz know how I fair. or Raw Dairy as my husband calls me @@@@@@ I need to get more specific information on raw dairy sales in PA. Should I just call the state dairy office? I tried to look at the website and read the laws but I cannot understand all the legal rubish. My main concern in my area is that there are not certified raw dairies in the western part if the state. I would like to reach out to some small local farmers here and incourage them to sell their milk to the many people who contact me every week. But being small, I know they will not be ready to take the plunge and get certified. So how do we get around that at this point?...legally. WAPF Chapter Leader Pittsburgh @@@@@ Hi, I live in Eastern PA and I assume the laws are the same here. As far as I understand it, you either get certified, do a cow share, or do it illegally. On farm sales are totally illegal and there have been efforts to enforce that, although none of the farmers I know personally have ever experienced any problems. One of my farmer friends got a " scare letter " recently--not addressed to him specifically but a generic letter given to members of some local farmers coop or something. (I just uploaded a photo of the letter to the RawDairy home page.) I actually visited a farmer fairly close to me once who is certified because I was driving by and saw his roadside sign boldly advertising " raw milk " --naturally I had to stop in and learn more! As I recall he didn't seem to find certification to be burdensome and he was happy with his situation. ( I tried a little of his milk, but never went back because I have (illegal) sources who feed less or no grain and have all Jerseys instead of a mixed herd, etc...) (I just uploaded a photo of the roadside sign to the RawDairy home page if anyone's curious.) I've heard that some people in PA are using cow shares successfully, but I don't know any of them personally or any details. My advice is to just go to the farm and buy the milk illegally. Just be sensible and discreet, but above all, " just do it " . You'll be wasting your time contacting a government agency, and it might only put them on the lookout for illegal sales. Besides just having each consumer show up at the farm with glass bottles, you could alternatively have the farmer do a weekly delivery to a third party location, like the home of one of the consumers, for distribution. Large coolers can be used in transit. A key issue is to avoid having bottled milk stored in any area that can be inspected by the folks who handle the farmer's mass market milk permit. This topic makes me **so** angry. Mike SE Pennsylvania The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 ---- I know Exactly where you come from when you say "Yu'nz"...... --Terry ......I will let yu'nz know how I fair.or Raw Dairy as my husband calls me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 @@@@@@ Hello Guys - This is just a thought, but the PA Ag Secretary, Dennis Wolff, is a dairy farmer. Have you ever thought of contacting him directly??? Tony Marzolino @@@@ As far as I know dairy farmers are typically among the strongest advocates of pasteurization... I wonder what the percentage of dairy farmers is who drink their own milk raw? I would be surprised if it was in double digits.... Mike SE Pennsylvania The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Anton wrote: > @@@@@@ > Hello Guys - This is just a thought, but the PA Ag Secretary, Dennis > Wolff, is a dairy farmer. Have you ever thought of contacting him > directly??? > > Tony Marzolino > @@@@ > > As far as I know dairy farmers are typically among the strongest > advocates of pasteurization... I wonder what the percentage of dairy > farmers is who drink their own milk raw? I would be surprised if it > was in double digits.... > > Mike > SE Pennsylvania > > The best way to predict the future is to invent it. --Alan Kay > > > My observation is that most farmers with traditional sized farms drink their own milk. Bunting Delhi, NY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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