The nearly three-week shutdown of Organic Pastures Dairy Co. may be nearing an end.
Mark McAfee, the owner, reported that the Fresno, CA, dairy has been cleared to begin production. Additional testing of the products by the California Department of Food and Agriculture will take place on Monday. Assuming those tests come back negative, likely in three to five days, OPDC will be cleared to begin shipping product. So it seems product could begin shipping in another week.
OPDC was ordered to recall its product and placed under quarantine after five children were sickened by E.coli O157:H7 over a three-month period from August to October. Three of the children had hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a complication of E.coli O157:H7 that often shuts down the kidneys.
OPDC’s testing of its dairy came back negative earlier in the week, though it did announce that “two environmental samples of manure from the calf raising location did detect E. Coli 0157-H7.” It noted that its “calf raising location is located separate from our dairy and creamery and is managed as a secure area” because E.coli O157:H7 isn’t uncommon in calves.
He said OPDC completely renovated its dairy during the shutdown–renovations that had been planned in any event, and were able to take place more easily with the dairy shut down for commercial production. “We put in new floors, new pouring concrete, new walls,” says McAfee. From a regulatory viewpoint, it’s as if the California Department of Food and Agriculture will be signing off on a new dairy when approval is finally given to ship product, he said.
The Raw Milk Institute will continue on its mission, despite the recent quarantine of Organic Pastures Dairy Co., according to Mark McAfee.The photo here is of its exhibit at the recent Weston A. Price national conference in early November. Aside from the lost sales from the recall, OPDC has experienced erosion among its retailer chain. It noted on its Facebook page, “A few of our stores have become discouraged and scared, and we are trying to keep them insured and ready for business as normal.” It asked customers on its Facebook page to lobby their favorite health food stores to continue carrying the product when it returns to the market.
As for the Raw Milk Institute, McAfee said it is unaffected by the shutdown. It has 600 consumer members, and McAfee said he will continue as its main leader. Referring to the possible impact of the OPDC quarantine, he stated, “Just because you have a bump in the road doesn’t mean you don’t go down the road.” But, he added, “I don’t see myself as being the chairman years down the road. I would love to have other people manage this.”
***
The three associates of Rawesome Food Club charged with felonies in connection with distribution of raw dairy and eggs, learned at a court hearing yesterday that a new prosecutor will be handling their case.
That seems at first glance like it could be good news for them, since the original prosecutor from the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Kelly Sakir, appeared to be extremely aggressive in her approach to the case. It’s difficult to know right away if the new prosecuting lawyer, James Castillo, will treat the case with as high a priority.
While it is tempting to think he might be less aggressive in his approach, and might even decide that the entire affair is ridiculous, it’s also important to consider that the events in this case may be directed by individuals above both Sakir and Castillo. L.A. County, along with a number of other agencies, including the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have all expended considerable resources in pursuing the case as far as it has gone, which is a long ways.
The L.A. County District Attorney’s office is a huge organization, with more than 1,000 attorneys and nearly 300 investigators, who prosecute 60,000 felonies and 130,000 misdemeanors annually. It has an annual operating budget of more than $330 million, so some hundreds of thousands thrown at Rawesome can be easily buried.
In one other development, James Stewart, Rawesome’s manager, told the judge Thursday that he would be acting as his own attorney. The other two defendants, Victoria Bloch and Sharon Palmer, have retained lawyers.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 27, which could be the lead-in for a preliminary hearing in March.
***
An article in Food Safety News with the catchy title, “Raw Milk Myths-Busted” irritated a number of people on this blog (including me). The irritation, about the propaganda nature of the piece, actually led to some constructive discussion following the article.
The author of that article, Michele Jay-Russell, a researcher at the University of California, Davis, seems to have reversed herself in publishing a new article about the epidemiological process in food-borne illness. (It’s the first link under “What Is Epidemiology” at the beginning of the page.)
There are many misconceptions, which are often expressed here, about the epidemiological process. The biggest one is that raw milk illnesses are treated differently than other food-borne illness by public health authorities.
In this article, Jay-Russell clearly explains the epidemiological process of investigation and analysis, making good use of charts and graphics. It doesn’t specifically deal with raw milk, but is very topical in light of the recent events at Organic Pastures, which involved illnesses traced to the dairy via epidemiological principles.
Seems to me, by stopping production and recalling product and replacing all their faulty facilities OPDC has only confirmed that raw milk is unsafe and it makes kids dangerously ill. Otherwise the milk would keep flowing in spite of FDA coercion to prove that it is safe and when no more illnesses are discovered the milk would have to be vindicated as the cause. How else can you refute the epidemiology and prove it wrong? More empty fight talk won't help and RAMP and RAWMI are an obvious failure. Civil disobedience — isn't that the only way?
http://www.issc.org/client_resources/Education/VvFactSheet.pdf
"Persons at high-risk include those with liver disorders, including hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer; hemochromatosis; diabetes mellitus; and those with immunocompromising conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, or undergoing their treatments. Individuals who take prescribed medication to decrease stomach acid levels or who have had gastric surgery ar*—+e also at risk."
Seems the majority of the population takes continuously or sporadically anti-ulcer medications, so they are "at risk" more so than "normal".
David,
What's the poop on the families that have accused Op of illness? Haven't seen anything in the news. Really haven't heard anything more in regards to this "raw milk outbreak" than what was said in the beginning.
How many eat hamburger thinking it is fully cooked and it is not? How many consume foods unknowingly has been cross contaminated? In answering questions on the History Case report, the parent or patient is not going to be answering correctly because there are too many unknowns.
Unless you find the exact strain from the suspected place of initial contamination, it is still speculation.
Flim Flamm makes a good point; Whats good for the goose is good for the gander….. or you roll over and play dead and do others biding… surrender? This just reinforces the govts power over farmers.
This whole movement is being encompassed with the stench of political BS.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
It's easy to see when you know what to look for, isn't it? Let's see if McAfee and gang don't use this crisis to reinforce the need for RAWMI.
Nothing more about families sickened. Because medical records are protected by strict privacy regulations, it's nearly impossible to find out more, unless the families decide to come forward or the public health authorities decide to release more information.
Separately, on difference between McAfee and Hochstetler, McAfee operates in the public realm of retailing with permits and licenses, and Hochstetler in the private realm of leasing contracts and membership agreements.
David
Since 2008 OPDC has been determined to build a relationship with CDFA. This is in an effort to partner with our regulators in a mutual effort to make raw milk a more natural mainstream product. Recent high level access and meetings with the CA Sec of Ag has shown this progress. There has been a change in culture at CDFA with our new governor.
However!!…our cooperative efforts with CDFA has limits. CDFA has shown OPDC tremendous respect during this recall process. CDFA has worked with us to work through our renovation project and has been fair with us as we go through the testing and restart testing process. If however CDFA began to delay our restart or add additional requirements to our restart or " change the story" then OPDC would spend it's political capital and unleash the massive amount of passion, anger and raw milk hunger that is waiting impatiently for the return of OP raw milk. To CDFA's credit they have been clear and fairly consistent with OPDC. We have a clear path to reinstatement which will happen this week. One of the most important benchmarks was passed yesterday with the cleanace of OP creamery facilities to restart production so samples can be taken from the facilities. Although distribution is still under quarantine this will lift mid week after test results come back. To their credit CDFA made arrangements to have testing peformed over the weekend to shorten time. This is unusual.
I agree there is a time for letting all consumer "'mother lion" hell break loose and calling a rally and huge press conference and "pushing send " to all the thousands of FB moms.
Now is not that time. CA is not that place. We have grown beyond that time, CDFA has shown a respect for raw milk and it's consumers choices. Both OPDC and CDFA are engaged in partnering for progress for raw milk. But….everyone knows that a very ugly fight is always an option close at hand. The huge stick is safely in our hand.
There is a time to fight and there is a time to build. In CA the revolution is behind us, now is the time to build the peace and the market. RAMP and food safety plays a very important part of that peace and progress.
CA is not the face of raw milk in America. Food fighting is very much the call of the day in other locations. CA is leading the way with demonstrated progress.
Whack!! "Thank you sir, may I have another?" (from Animal House, I think)
Good to know OPDC has the timid enforcers at CDFA right under its thumb, so raw milk remains an issue only in backwater jurisdictions east of Saramento. "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!" (from George Bush II, as I recall). Sylvia is right about a lingering scent of political BS around here. Screw this, I'm going back out to the cow barn for some fresh air.
-Nietzsche
Just the facts, please.
-Blair
It is far easier to fight and foment conflict than to learn to teach and reach out in partnership to build a respected market after the battle.
I am so sick of "no named" inflammatory side line quarterbacks that are critical of progress and peace. Progress is made by engagement. Not by perpetual fighting.
I have been right about Mark's husbandry . . . Mom was probably the culprit . . . she is now hamburger as we speak (USDA's testing is laughable btw Mark:)
You do not have a closed herd and your cows are stressed, Mark . . .
Moms out there who think they are drinking healthy OPDC milk . . . your milk is only healthy if your cow is healthy . . .
Call me Mark . . . if you need husbandry tips ., . . . I have seen much that you can improve on:)
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com
You cannot even provide shade for your cows (up until recently) in CALIFORNIA . . . lost what . . . 13-18 head due to a heat wave . . . a year ago . . . you have much to learn about farming my friend . . . and you want to set RAWMI Standards . . . . ha, ha, ha . .
I have been raising sheep now for six years and I have not lost one in all that time . . . . guess why . . . due to good husbandry. My 100% grass based sheep are healthy . . . so my meat is so very healthy for my customers. . . .
Call me if you want husbandry tips and ways to keep your herd healthy . . . I have raised a few cows on our farm . . .I am sure other farmers out there can give you advice as well . . .
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogsspot.com
OPDC has always had shades. They were portable and moved arround the pastures. The cows we lost were lost five years ago. The USDA designated the central valley for disaster heat relief that summer when temperatures hit 120 degrees. Thousands of cows died that summer even with shades cows died. This year we installed permanent shade structures. Please ask me questions prior to repeating bad data. OPDC bashing seems to be popular with some negative people with
I realize you are on the defensive here and may not have watched the videos that Violet refers to closely. Or read clarifications in the comments. Here they are again, in case you want to watch them again to hear the voice of your own marketing/PR employee whose voice is captured on the video: http://healthytraditions.com/blog/post.cfm/certified-raw-milk-in-california-visits-to-the-two-raw-milk-dairies.
First of all, the author of the piece was looking at raw milk dairies to supply a buying club. How is that raw milk HATING? To source raw milk for a buying club is raw milk SUPPORTING.
Where in the video or article does it claim that OPDC is not certified organic? Where does it claim that confinement is better than pasture based? I believe showing the viewer that your dairy is located in the heart of CAFO-land (ammonia and manure rich groundwater, anyone?) and pesticide spray valley…have you heard of drift? Here's the comment where the author corrects a previous commenter: "Organic Pastures IS certified organic. Their certification was up-to-date when we checked it. There are certified organic operations in the Central Valley, but one has to wonder about water supplies and whether or not current USDA NOP standards for buffer zones are sufficient for places like the Central Valley. One also has to wonder about how nutrient dense the soil is after so many years of intensive farming throughout the years." The author also says: "the piles of manure were dry and not smelly at all, like a commercial operation would be." He is complimenting your manure piles, Mark, saying they are NOT smelly like those of a commercial dairy.
Which year did you lose the cows? I'd like to look at the records for heat and cows lost, please. I am also wondering if it happens to be the year you decided that a mass cow grave would be a great way to call your farm biodiverse because you began to "compost" your cows? Maybe the dead ones from the heat and lack of shade?
I don't like to kick a man when he's down, but when his rebuttal to the video/article is an obvious straw man argument I cannot help but comment.
I had hoped McAfee would address the real concerns this video brought up, namely:
1) Misleading Marketing: OPDC prides itself on it's 100% Grass-Fed raw dairy. It says so on the bottle! Clearly this video shows a different picture of the dairy than happy cows grazing all day on pasture. 100% grass-fed looks more like pasture based with the cows eating alfalfa and a lot o'grains: two hours a day! From the author: "the piles of manure were dry and not smelly at all, like a commercial operation would be. And she said that they were there before the new flush lane. I didn't sense it was an issue, other than to show that the cows obviously spend a great deal of time there feeding if they have to remove that much manure."
2) Open heard: "In a follow up email Marcy stated that they had bought 161 cows since the summer of 2011" and "No calves, we bought full grown cows." from organic dairies.
Another thought: I've been studying GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. She teaches that the baby's intestinal flora is seeded from the mom's flora as it comes through the birth canal and from the flora on the mother's breast as it nurses.
Is this the same for calves? Could they have gotten the ecoli 0157:H7 from their mothers? The same mothers who are now lactating for your raw milk consumers?
Sincerely,
Kristen,
raw milk consumer
If we are the kulaks, Mark is a stukach.
The cows died in the summer of 2006. My son became ill in September of that year.
Mark is a great salesman. It seems that many now understand what Amanda Rose has been trying to tell everyone for 5 years. He misrepresents many things about his dairy.
http://www.traditional-foods.com/sourcing/raw-milk/
For example, it's not all that useful to visit a dairy and see only the dry cows.
RAWMI should make this guide available to everyone. It should be posted on the OPDC website. If these accusations are untrue, this guide will give consumers the tools to see that for themselves.
I have really tried to be open minded about RAWMI. I was hoping that it would have some real teeth too it, not the same old stuff. I question how an organization attempting to educate farmers and consumers can have an entire website dedicated to raw milk safety standards and never once mention the multiple pathogens that can possibly contaminate raw milk.
If pathogens and the illnesses they cause are not a real concern, why is there a need for raw milk safety standards? It looks like this organization is going to tap-dance around the very issue as to why the standards are being developed in the first place.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/25/AR2006072501297.html
Waiting in line for OP to open,
Chris Lewis
An old indian Chief told a story of two lions to his curious grandson.
One lion was mean and cruel…liked to eat people, ruin human food supplies, tell lies, tear things apart, spread missinformation and rumors and say horrible things.
The other lion was kind, thoughtful, considerate, and protected people with his wisdom, intelligence, knowledge and strength.
When the grandson asked which lion would live and become the king….the chief said to his grandson…"the lion that you feed".
I am taking some time off from TCP to feed the hungry "mother lions of CA" and take care their families. Our team has tried to be transparent and I have tried my best to be honest and truthful only to have my efforts and words twisted to serve a beligerent anti-raw milk agenda. We have taken all of your pieces of advice to heart and will be dilligently making some small changes to our website in an effort to be even more clear about our brand and labeling. I never ever want to miss-lead anyone about OPDC or what our cows do or do not do. In everything there is a learning curve….we have learned much in our last 12 years of producing raw milk and we intend to apply these lessons as we go forward. We also intend to keep our minds open to future lessons.
Blessings and love to all for a great Christmas,
Mark
Thank you for answering the question about the year the cows died.
Mark,
I don't appreciate being compared to a lion that likes to rip apart human food systems, one who spreads rumors and lies. I happen to identify more with the wise and knowledgeable lion. I believe in balance, and without productive inquiry and criticism we don't weed out the farmers/ranchers who do it less than optimal.
I feed the ranchers and farmers who feed me good quality food. I feed them with my food dollar that you like to talk about. Too bad you won't be getting any of mine any longer.
Adieu and good luck…whoever advised you to stop posting here is probably a wise old lion.
Kristen
Give you-selves a collective pat-on-the-back … you-all remind of the ancient joke about the parts of the body arguing about who should be kings. but I'm not going to waste my time going through it … the punchline is: you don't have to be smart, or pretty, or good at anything to be the boss. You just have a enough of an a-hole.
You must think of us here at TCP as fools, if we are to believe that you are leaving just 'to feed the mother lions".
We know why you are leaving…because time and time again you put your foot in your mouth, show your true disdain for a majority of raw milk producers in this country, and lie through your teeth about your farm and it's practices. Gutless and cowardly move… I guess running away is easier for you than to correct the lies that you put in your post earlier about what YOUR PR person told to the cameras. You are not worthy of being followed.
The next move I bet will to create a new forum, probably on the RAWMI site, where strict controls will limit true discussion, and Mark will have a new place to 'rule'. It'll be up shortly, just watch.
I found the video of OPDC very intriging…cows can eat a lot of grain in two hours….and then when led into the pasture they'll maybe eat a little grass for bulk…then lie down and chew their cud….till the gate opens to the grain feeders again. 100% pastured, my ass.
Mark…so you have 600 consumer members for your institute which states it's goal as education of raw milk producers. How may producers have you actually signed up. Seems like you need to start a institute for raw milk drinkers……..
http://claravaledairy.com/faq.html
"Is Raw milk dangerous?"
Under this title, they give a brief statement regarding potential pathogens.
Of those 2 videos, the one for OP was much longer than the one from Claravale. Why is that?
Just to answer part of your question, Claravale has been upfront about its practices and some of us value that. Because Claravale hasn't had an outbreak, because they are grain fed, it doesn't actually follow that it is then OK for OPDC to provide an incorrect marketing picture to consumers.
On pathogens, it was OPDC that has that "BSK study" where the BSK lab in Fresno spiked OPDC milk with pathogens and they died off, so goes the urban legend anyway. If you look at the lab report you get a whole different picture. It's an issue I discuss at the Ethicurean:
http://www.ethicurean.com/2009/07/20/raw-milk-mem/
In this context, Claravale is also not the one making false safety claims about milk.
Amanda
if you want to see how coarse, caustic language is applied properly, read the Bible, and ALL of it
this used to be a forum where we had the benefit of the best minds, oriented towards making safe, legal raw milk available.
In that political endeavor, ignoramuses just come with the territory. Mark McAffee quit this forum after coping with years of relentless vitriol from the mendacious idiots who are dedicated to hindering the Campaign for REAL MILK, not helping it!
He found out… you don't cast your pearls before swine LEST THEY TURN AND REND YOU
Mark McAffee – and never forgetting his support team – has helped millions of people benefit from getting REAL MILK, as well as championing this issue to the very top of the heap of public awareness. Contrast that with what his critics – especially, the viper whose role is to pollute this forum with the micro-detail/ lingering stench of hospital wastes, now 5 years later, in her pity party. Paid off handsomely, no doubt, yet UNable to give thanks to God for healing … Determined to make 'everyone feel her pain' and nurse her grudge forevermore
I hope Mark McAffee does start a new forum, which will separate out those who are oriented to Life, from those trapped in their own little hell-hole, the culture of Death.
I am curious as to what Claravale has been doing that has prevented any association with outbreaks? Is it the continuous smaller scale of his dairy? I don't recall reading if his herd is closed? Does he bottle on his farm or ship it out? Is the diet a factor? I've no doubt that there are many factors.
I posted Claravales FAQ page to show what they say about potential pathogens.
I do believe your guide to help people make informed choices is a great tool.
http://www.traditional-foods.com/sourcing/raw-milk/
2006 was a horribly hot year, many people died of heat induced deaths as did animals.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jul/21/local/me-heat-deaths21
I think that is a really great question and I would love to see a dairy expert's analysis of Claravale. We see other small dairies caught in relatively big outbreaks — Dee Creek years back is a good example, but there have been quite a few. It's not the smallness of Claravale. They are doing something right.
Amanda
Those millions spent building his RAWMI institute would have been better spent buliding a permanent barn for his cows . . . a HUGE barn that you can find in an Agritech catalog . . .and they are not permanent either . . . you can move them around . . .wonder how his "Shade Structure" has fared in the recent 80mph + Santa Ana winds?
That is probably why he dropped off . . . he never called me for husbandry advice . . . btw . .
Mark . . . you need to spend more time with your cows and on your farm and less time trying to tell everyone what to do . . . I am a firm believer that you must get your house in order first . . . perfect this . . . before trying to solve the problems of the world.
Best of luck to you and I do have an open line if you want my opinion on Animal Husbandry . . . lots can be learned, I agree . . .
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com
The main reason Claravale is doing everything right is first they are not organic . . . so they can help those cows recover from illness and then after a few months put them back into production . . . and MOST IMPORTANTLY . . . they are a CLOSED herd.
Diseases, pathogens, and new parasites come when you introduce new animals to a farm . . . eliminate those and as long as you can stay independent from outside animals . . .and with frequent checks on the health, well being and husbandry of your herd . . . you will be okay. Small herd sizes are a plus as well.
Dee Creek did not seem to me to be very well run husbandry wise. . . so that is why they ran into problems.
Husbandry with a herd of the right breed . . . of under 80 head seems to be the key to having a sucessful raw dairy. . . . nearly 100% grass based is the ideal. . . for the health of the cow and the consumer.
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine. blogspot.com
You are exactly right:)
Best,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com
Its a crap shoot! There are thousands of family farms feeding grain and prepared rations to their cattle where family members, employees, friends and neighbors consume the raw milk with no illness. Gwen painted a real life picture for us a while back when she stated, I pulled my cow's manure-covered hoof out of the milk bucket numerous times, strained the milk and drank it as a teenager and an adult. I made yogurt from it. If youre a dairy farmer such incidences are recognized as a given and it certainly does not deter their desire to drink raw milk. I am certain that Claravale has experienced its share of incidences.
Both your and Salvias assumption is that the problem or the non problem if you will rest with the dairy operation, so if you can somehow figure out what one is doing right and the other is doing wrong the problem will be solved. Its not as simple as that, and a so called dairy experts analysis will not resolve Silvias queries.
Perhaps what needs to be done is a cross sectional study or if more accuracy is desired a longitudinal study of the people who consume milk from the various operations, taking into consideration cultural, environmental and medical influences and the role these influences have with respect to the incidence of illness.
I stand by what I previously stated, Our priorities are half ass backwards and were burning bridges behind ourselves if we continue to focus on, manipulate and antagonize our allies, namely those who produce natural whole foods and the many organisms which are clearly necessary for maintaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem. http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2011/11/20/wi-ag-to-vernon-hershberger-youre-invited-bring-a-friendraw.html?currentPage=3#comments
Violet
Being in business for 80 years I can assure you that Claravales herd is not closed and has been periodically exposed to new breeding stock.
Ken Conrad
"I hope Mark McAffee does start a new forum, which will separate out those who are oriented to Life, from those trapped in their own little hell-hole, the culture of Death."
And I say . . . Come visit my blog . . . learn what life is like on a small farm in Maine . . . we are not trapped in a hell hole culture of death . . . but a culture of life . . .
Gordon . . . I have not lost a sheep to disease or parasites in the past six years of raising them . . . every turkey, duck and chicken are raised on our farm from breeding stock held over year round . . .in my own incubators or under my broody hens:) we husband here and it is all about LIFE . . .
When you say things like that . . . I wonder if you really are a true farmer as you say.
Right now I am nursing a young Narangansett turkey . . . who is a perfect replacement for my current Tom . . . he was just beaten up by my elderly 6 year old tom (this should not happen according to the textbooks . . . big Tom is way too old to be doing this . . .) . . . farming really stinks on this level. . . . which according to Big Ag . . . I am the lowest of the low . . .Get Big or . . . Get Out!!!! We value life . . . (My six year old Tom will live out the winter . . . I will put my new Tom when he recovers from his wounds with his two girls in a new stall this winter, once he is well . . .)
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com
AI and bringing in a bull every few years is one thing . . . bringing in Animals like Mark does regularly is quite another . . . I think we agree on this.
Best,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com
We agree on much but I digress with you on your last post . . . when the richest raw milk farmer out there says "Join RAWMI or be regulated to the Stone Age" etc., and does not have the best husbandry practices . . . you bet your sweet A@$ I will challenge that person . . Mark did no outreach to Independent small raw milk farmers prior to launching RAWMI . . . NONE!!!!
It is not about people who consume raw milk . . . it is those as producers who should be the best they can be . . . and it is best done at a local level with only a few dozen cows at the most. . . . I am all for "SELF" and not "MANDATED" testing monthly through an independent lab to be certified by consumers at a local level . . . to help boost sales. . . but beyond that . . foodsheds are too different for raw milk to be homogenized nationwide . . . even in our own state . . . there are many different climates and soil structures . . . one size fits all does not do it . . . even in Maine. Local foods produced by local farmers are what should be embraced . .
Kind regards,
Violet
http://www.kilbyridgefarmmaine.blogspot.com
I play a `farmer`on tv – having been labelled that for the last few years in BC – but I`m stuck in the Big City at the moment. Our farmer is 60 miles from my house in Burnaby.
lately I spend more time lawyering, than farming
the dichotomy on this forum is between small holders who want to stay that way, versus the vision of Mark McAffee to make REAL MILK available to whosoever wants it
I admire and encourage the smallest of operations, meanwhile, I want to see the supply of REAL MILK normalized … which, ideally, means thousands of little 40 cow family farms across the continent, co-operating in a trade association such as RAWMI and Cowshare Canada.
what galls me is people who snipe at Mark McAfee when, having met him and having the measure of the man, he`s pouring himself in to a noble endeavor. Sure he`s going to make millions of $$s and so he should. He`s a classic American entrepreneural type who is demonstrating that the way to get what you want, is to help others get what they want.
It is no stretch to say that Mark McAffee is the `Steve Jobs`of this industry.
There`s the rub. I think of it as a challenge to re-organize the Stalinist industrial ag. model, to properly serve the people with QUALITY and quantity. That requires a very different approach from people who want to milk a cow or 2, and keep raw milk as some kind of exclusive gourmet club
With rare exception, Americans have sub-clinical deficiency of Vitamin K2. The test question is : do you want every child in America to have the enough for them to have perfect teeth and strong bones, or don`t you. REAL MILK is the very best natural Vitamin K2
That is really gross about sifting the manure out if the milk (implying without the knowledge of your guest and/or customer).. Who would know, eh? Reminds me of a teenager at a chain restaurant spitting in your meal – no harm; no one got sick, so what?
Who raised you? My Nana who kept an immaculate farm and kitchen would be disgusted.
All that said, it would have grossed me out more if you said Gordon stuck his foot in your milk bucket and you served it anyway.
MW
My inquiry was in regards of the fact that Claravale appears not to have had any illnesses attached to their milk. Are they doing anything different than the majority of small farmers?
I do realize that shit happens no matter how careful you are. I also realize what harms one person, may not harm another.
The govt allows X amount of chemicals in our foods, what's a little poop? They all have the potential to harm, if the govt really cared, they'd prohibit the added chemical contaminates.