Latest news from Big Barn and our producers.
Tesco say they have cut the price of milk to help people save on everyday items and that they will not pay farmers less.
This a PR stunt not real customer care and thoroughly irresponsible.
Read on for more or sign the RAW milk petition here.
Tesco have now put pressure on milk prices as other retailers join the price war. Will Tesco profits drop by the amount they are dropping prices? No, because they will mark up other products to give shareholders the return they want.
The net result is that more small dairy farmers will go out of business and mega dairies will be set up around the country.
For more on mega dairies and raw milk click here.
Unfortunately the Food Standards Agency (probably backed by supermarkets) has ruled that only dairy farmers producing their own raw milk are allowed to sell it from the farm, very difficult for understaffed, underfunded, farmers.
If the rules changed farmers could sell their milk through local shops, and vending machines, you could even get a raw milk cappuccino!
The number of dairy farmers in the UK has gone from 45,000 in the 80s to 14,500 in 2012, and the threat of mega dairies like the USA, where 32,000 cows rarely taste fresh grass, and only live for 3 years, looms.
Cheap, standard, fresh milk, that lasts for weeks in the fridge, from mega dairies, is what supermarkets, and many people think they, want. Others who understand the whole story and want to see cows in fields and be able to consume the milk, butter or cheese from those cows should be allowed to buy those products from local independent shops. Your comments are welcome.