I have to get up on my soap box today. It’s been percolating in my brain
for quite awhile now, and I just need to spit it out.
for quite awhile now, and I just need to spit it out.
GET REAL, PEOPLE!!
As in the RealSeal (™) that you used to see on dairy products everywhere
back in the 80s and 90s. If you saw the Real Seal on a product, it was an
“assurance that you are buying a genuine dairy product, made with milk from
cows on U.S. dairy farms, and meeting strict manufacturing requirements.”
That’s according to the website http://www.realseal.com/ which provides
information and education about real dairy products and their benefits.
back in the 80s and 90s. If you saw the Real Seal on a product, it was an
“assurance that you are buying a genuine dairy product, made with milk from
cows on U.S. dairy farms, and meeting strict manufacturing requirements.”
That’s according to the website http://www.realseal.com/ which provides
information and education about real dairy products and their benefits.
I am infuriated--LIVID--that there are companies that can manufacture,
market, and sell products as “milk” that don’t even come close to the definition of
milk. You all know what I’m talking about.
market, and sell products as “milk” that don’t even come close to the definition of
milk. You all know what I’m talking about.
Almondmilk, coconutmilk, soymilk, etc. That’s not milk. It’s nut juice. I guess
that’s not a catchy marketing approach or they’d be using it.
that’s not a catchy marketing approach or they’d be using it.
Before you get your bloomers in a bundle, I am not saying that there
should not be alternative choices available for those people who choose not
to drink milk for health or personal reasons. I have no problem with that.
should not be alternative choices available for those people who choose not
to drink milk for health or personal reasons. I have no problem with that.
My beef (don’t even get me started on beef marketing!) is with the
manufacturers and the marketers. By definition, milk comes from mammals
to feed their young. That would be animals, not plants. Look it up in the
dictionary or google it. I’m right about this.
manufacturers and the marketers. By definition, milk comes from mammals
to feed their young. That would be animals, not plants. Look it up in the
dictionary or google it. I’m right about this.
So how the hell do these companies get off saying their product is milk when
it is no such thing?! Do you know how they get around that? They make it
all one word, i.e., almondmilk instead of almond milk.
it is no such thing?! Do you know how they get around that? They make it
all one word, i.e., almondmilk instead of almond milk.
Newsflash: the average consumer does not make that distinction. In
defense of the average consumer, it isn’t completely their fault. They
are misinformed about some things.
defense of the average consumer, it isn’t completely their fault. They
are misinformed about some things.
Part of the reason for that ignorance (and I do not mean that in a derogatory
way) is that our society is no longer agrarian. There is at least one generation
if not two that have no idea where their food comes from because they do not
know anyone who works or lives on a farm.
way) is that our society is no longer agrarian. There is at least one generation
if not two that have no idea where their food comes from because they do not
know anyone who works or lives on a farm.
So please...let me educate you. I’ll try not to bite your head off like I did my
sister-in-law a couple of weeks ago. Sorry about that, Annie!! :)
sister-in-law a couple of weeks ago. Sorry about that, Annie!! :)
I have heard rumbles for years about how “the high price of groceries is
making farmers rich.” Absolutely not true.
making farmers rich.” Absolutely not true.
As long as we started out talking about milk, we will continue in that vein.
A gallon of milk costs approximately $3.50. A gallon of milk weighs about
8 pounds. Why does that matter, you ask? Because farmers are paid a
certain amount per 100 pounds. Right now the average price paid to farmers
is $13 per 100 pounds. That’s 13 cents per pound or $1.04 for 8 pounds...one
gallon. Less than half of what the consumer pays in the grocery store.
A gallon of milk costs approximately $3.50. A gallon of milk weighs about
8 pounds. Why does that matter, you ask? Because farmers are paid a
certain amount per 100 pounds. Right now the average price paid to farmers
is $13 per 100 pounds. That’s 13 cents per pound or $1.04 for 8 pounds...one
gallon. Less than half of what the consumer pays in the grocery store.
I’m not saying the trucker and those other middle men don’t need to make
a living because they do. I’m saying don’t think the entire cost at the store
goes to the farmer.
a living because they do. I’m saying don’t think the entire cost at the store
goes to the farmer.
And here’s the downside to the $1.04 that goes to the farmer. It isn’t even
close to what it costs to produce that gallon of milk, which is $1.20. That’s
a loss of 16 cents for every gallon produced. It might not sound like much
until you do the math and realize that a 200-cow dairy farm might produce
20,000 pounds of milk per day. Breaking that down, that’s 2500 gallons of
milk per day with a loss of 16 cents per gallon for a net loss of $400
every day.
close to what it costs to produce that gallon of milk, which is $1.20. That’s
a loss of 16 cents for every gallon produced. It might not sound like much
until you do the math and realize that a 200-cow dairy farm might produce
20,000 pounds of milk per day. Breaking that down, that’s 2500 gallons of
milk per day with a loss of 16 cents per gallon for a net loss of $400
every day.
Furthermore, that production cost is a break even point, it isn’t a profit
point. It only covers the expenses needed to produce the milk. It doesn’t
cover the cost of health insurance, groceries, or gas for the car much less
anything fun like going to the movies or on a vacation to Disneyland.
point. It only covers the expenses needed to produce the milk. It doesn’t
cover the cost of health insurance, groceries, or gas for the car much less
anything fun like going to the movies or on a vacation to Disneyland.
I think I can speak fairly knowledgeably about this as I grew up on a dairy
farm (dairy princess in 1986, thank you very much), I married a dairy
farmer, and both my kids worked on dairy farms through high school. I
know what I’m talking about here.
farm (dairy princess in 1986, thank you very much), I married a dairy
farmer, and both my kids worked on dairy farms through high school. I
know what I’m talking about here.
Obviously, dairy farmers want a fair price for their product so they can make
a decent living. They know, however, that fair prices will not always be
the case. When prices are low, as they are now and have been for three
years, it’s easy for their spirits to droop and for them to wonder if it’s
worth it at all.
a decent living. They know, however, that fair prices will not always be
the case. When prices are low, as they are now and have been for three
years, it’s easy for their spirits to droop and for them to wonder if it’s
worth it at all.
For most of them, the ups and downs are part of the game. They know
that the long days that start before dawn and end at or after dusk 365
days a year, the worries about a sick animal, the stress of trying to pay
all the bills, and battling Mother Nature more days than not are all part and
parcel of the way of life they’ve chosen. That doesn’t mean they don’t want
the gratitude of their communities for navigating those hurdles as they
contribute to the cheapest and safest food supply in the world.
that the long days that start before dawn and end at or after dusk 365
days a year, the worries about a sick animal, the stress of trying to pay
all the bills, and battling Mother Nature more days than not are all part and
parcel of the way of life they’ve chosen. That doesn’t mean they don’t want
the gratitude of their communities for navigating those hurdles as they
contribute to the cheapest and safest food supply in the world.
I can guaran-damn-tee that if just one Joe Q. Public would say, “Thank
you for providing REAL nutritious food for our family” it would go a long
way toward raising their spirits.
you for providing REAL nutritious food for our family” it would go a long
way toward raising their spirits.
On that note, I would like to give a big shout out to Culver’s for being a
vocal supporter of dairy farmers and FFA. Thank you for your support!!
vocal supporter of dairy farmers and FFA. Thank you for your support!!
I would ask you one thing: Thank a dairy farmer if you can, thank a
business that serves/sells real dairy products, and buy REAL dairy products.
business that serves/sells real dairy products, and buy REAL dairy products.
Images used:
http://www.realseal.com/sites/default/files/logo_1.png
http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/32/32dc8f1736b4e0648546220ebd1242ce9d74a37811cc069123f477062369b123.jpg
https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_460w/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/15/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/BEDFORD_20180111_DAIRY_FARMERS_007.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1d/99/f4/1d99f4c724b34fe72baa75d0a803819e--farmer.jpg
