The State Drink of Virginia is Milk

by Jasmine

Virginia lists Milk as the state beverage.  The Virginia General Assembly passed the bill declaring this in 1982.  You would think that means that dairy is an important industry that the government would want to support.  However, according to Barnie Day, Virginia's dairy herds are diminishing at record numbers as the state continues to import milk. 

Milk production in Virginia was $275 million in 2005 yet dairies continue to struggle.  The only listing I found for Virginia milk that did not contain rBGH - Bovine Growth Hormone went bankrupt in the beginning of 2004.  As for large milk production both H. P. Hood and Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative have plants in my food-shed, they are both huge corporations accepting milk from producers up and down the East Coast. Shenandoah's Pride has been bought out by Dean Foods I could hardly consider any of these local.

So, what about small farms?  In January of 2005, Virginia passed a law that fluid milk and all dairy products must be made with pasteurized milk.  Additionally, they must go through an expensive licensing program and can no longer produce small batches of cheese in home kitchens.  This law has made local dairy much more difficult to find.  Because the law is designed to control sale of raw milk and not it's consumption, some small farmers are getting around the ban by selling cow (or goat) share. As part owner of the cow, you may drink the milk that it produces. While I love the idea and think this might be buying local at its best, the amount of milk and delivery options are not ideal for me at this time.

I think I will have to find the closest, best ranked, organic milk, I can.

Jasmine writes about knitting and eating and all things green at http://knitting40shadesofgreen.typepad.com/.

Comments

[Liz]

I fear that the FDA will override Maine's law that allows the sale of raw milk. One of my great joys in life is buying milk with cream on top in a glass bottle. Yum.

[Laurie]

Homestead Creamery is not organic, but it is carried by a natural foods supermarket here in N.C. (used to be carried by our neighborhood co-op) and it uses glass returnable bottles. They are located in Wirtz, Virginia, thankfully within my 100 miles!

It seems that there has been a lot of anguish in the Virginia slow food circles over milk. The state government there sure seems to be determined to drive out the small producers.

[Kathryn Russell]

There are numerous farms in Virginia that offer agister programs on a small level where goat and cow milk can be obtained through a CSA type investment. This is the trend, and to support these farms consumers must be willing to make the type of investment that the State hopes they will not. The VDACS does not like UN-CONTROLLED farms, and will go out of their way to try and control every dit and dot, to the detriment of both farmer and consumer. Go to eatwild.com, localharvest.com, or realmillk.com for good information on locating milk (and other local foods) near you.