Milk Home Delivery
By: Keith
I wrote an article several months ago where I talked extensively about the health benefits of milk. I researched various brands and explored the merits of organic vs. conventional milks. When I was a kid our family got milk from a dairy farm close to home. I remember going to the farm every week or so to collect the milk and learning how the milking was done. It was a great kid experience and it was great milk. That was 25 years ago, and I hadn’t had local milk since. That is until this past week when I signed up for home milk delivery from a farm in Longmont CO, a neighboring city. While, in my previous article, I was focusing on store bought milk and the healthfulness of milk in general, I forgot to mention the best milk of all – fresh milk.
The Offer
A sales guy came to our door, milk truck and all, and presented us with the offer of home milk delivery. My wife answered the door and she was skeptical. The man gave her the brochures and gave her a taste of some of the milks the farm offers. He didn’t expect her to sign up right there on the spot so he gave her a free half gallon of 1% and an igloo cooler to put the empty in to for collection. He said he would come back in a week to pick it up. He said he wouldn’t knock on the door again, just pick up the empty bottle. If we wanted to sign up for weekly delivery we could either do it online or call the number on the pamphlet. I was impressed by his salesmanship. He was letting his product do the selling. I don’t typically appreciate door to door salesmen, but this guy was friendly and sincere.
The Sale
My wife and I decided to do a blind taste test. We pitted the delivered 1% milk against Whole Foods’ 365 brand organic milk. The Whole Foods milk gets a 4 (out of 5) cow rating from the Cornucopia Institute; it’s no slouch. We used identical glasses (whiskey tumblers to capture the smell as well as the flavor), with identical quantities. I performed the test two times and chose the home delivered (non organic) milk both times. I honestly didn’t think I would be able to tell the difference, but I was wrong. I did not want to say, because it comes in a glass container and has the edge in perceived quality, that it was automatically better. There is no denying it; it is better milk. The salesman was right to let his product do it’s own selling, and we were right for being skeptical. We signed up for the service at three gallons a week (we drink 5 gallons but decided to start slow to see how it goes).
The Cost
It is the same price as the 365 organic milk and $1.50 more expensive than the 365 conventional milk and the Safeway brand conventional milk. I have to also consider the hassle of getting in the car all the time for milk runs, and also the added cost of the inevitable impulse buys that I make during said milk runs. The way I see it, I’m actually saving time and money. Not only do I save money and time, but it feels nice to not keep throwing away those big plastic jugs. The idea of using glass that just gets perpetually reused is attractive to me. All I have to do is remember to put the glass in the Igloo cooler on my porch every Monday before 6AM.
Having milk delivered to one’s home seems as American as apple pie. My parents had it and I had it. Heck, my mom tells me that they even still deliver in El Segundo (which is a beach community in greater Los Angeles County). If milk is still delivered there then I assume it must be available almost anywhere. It’s my impression that people don’t get it because they think it’s old fashioned and too expensive. While it is slightly more expensive, it is definitely worth it. Take it from a scientifically minded guy who subjected it to a blind taste test against one of the best milks available in stores. In addition to getting good milk and saving myself time I can feel good about supporting a local farm and not being wasteful with plastic. I encourage anybody to investigate a local farm for home milk delivery.
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Good for you! I loved having it delivered. With 3 little kids, walking a mile and a half to the store and carrying it back in the sun wasn’t something I wanted to do very often. Besides, glass keeps it colder and therefore fresher. Now if they would only bring back the Helms bakery truck!
I thought you would be proud. You bring up a good point. Glass does seem to keep the milk better for longer. Ooooh, bakery trucks. Now I want cake!
hmmm I have never thought of this, considering where I live (beef bend rd. has to have cows on it somewhere right? )
I should look into fresh milk. We used to get milk from a local dairy sold at the corner store and I can taste the difference in milk. I am like Napoleon Dynamite LOL
.-= Native Momma´s last blog ..Custom Sticker Give Away =-.
Native Momma, I bet there has to be a dairy farm someplace near there. HAHA, I forgot the Napoleon Dynamite reference
I love the idea of having milk delivered. I’m guessing it’s not raw milk though? I read your other article on conventional vs. organic but that distinction is not nearly as important as raw vs. pasteurized. The only healthful milk is raw. I’ve done quite a lot of research on this. Very interesting.
Kerri, I agree that raw milk is better than pasteurized. However It’s wrong to say that it’s the “only” healthful kind of milk. I too have done extensive research. pasteurized milk still offers big health benefits even if it is not quite the same as the raw variety. Thanks for visiting and thanks for the comment.
Cuando yo era chica nosotras recibíamos leche del lechero. El la traía en unas botellas enormes de metal, tocaba la puerta y teníamos que salir con nuestra propia olla para recibir la leche. Era leche recién ordeñada esa misma mañana, y no había sido pasteurizada así que teníamos que hervirla antes de poder beberla. Lo bueno era que formaba nata y esa es también muy rica. Ah que tiempos aquellos.
Keith,
I am desperately trying to find a milk delivery service and live near El Segundo (in Hermosa Beach). You mentioned that your Mom has a delivery service for milk here. Can you PLEASE tell me which one? I can’t find one!! Thanks so much!!! ~Blair
Blair: have you checked out Rockview Farms? http://www.rockviewfarms.com/ I don’t know if they are still in your specific area or not, but I do know that they deliver in the greater LA area. In the mean time, I will ask my mom.
Blair: This place, Broguiere’s Farm Fresh Dairy (can’t find a website for them though) (323) 726-0524, seems to be getting good reviews.