Raw Dairy News

I am very excited to announce that Sam Jones from Cedar Rock Dairy will be listing his milk on our market in Suwanee as well as on the Lilburn Locally Grown market. Maryanne, the market manager for Lilburn wrote up an excellent introduction about Sam, his farm and the advantages of A2 milk. A link to the full document is below.

Sam was born in Tennessee and his father was a Dairyman. He is familiar with Weston A Price diet guidelines, leaky gut issues, Celiac disease. His cows roam on certified organic *pastures of a 1200 acre organic farm. He has a closed herd, which means he has whole families of cows and knows the genealogy as well as the genetics of each individual. He feeds a *GMO- Free grain at milking time and the amount of grain each cow receives depends on their body condition at milking. The feed does contain a nominal amount of non-gmo soy. Sam explained that the need for cows to have some grain has been bred into cows. If they are suddenly prohibited from having any grain at all, they will starve themselves to death – mostly they survive on grasses, but man introduced grains to increase milk production. (another fine mess we have created!)

In an effort to correct this unfortunate reality, Sam is working with Dairymen in New Zealand where there exist closed herds that have never been fed any grains. Since he inseminates his cows, he is able to purchase semen from New Zealand in an effort to achieve the goal of having a herd that does not need grain to survive, but will in fact, thrive on a diet of pasture grasses. At the present time, Sam has bred 3 or 4 generations toward this optimum objective.

Sam does have his cows tested and all but one have the A2 gene and are “*A2 cows*”! Sam is a consultant for Farmers in Georgia and the surrounding states for purchase of Dairy cows, the breeding of Dairy cows and pasture management. His “hobby” is cow genetics! It is his passion and when we went to visit the Farm, we were blown away by the depth of Sam’s knowledge and expertise!

Sam does not vaccinate, he has his cows tested regularly, has his milk tested regularly and has a reputation with the Dept of Ag for having exceptionally excellent results. He does not use antibiotics unless it is absolutely necessary and the milk is not incorporated with the batch until it tests negative.

Link to explanation of the advantages of A2 milk

He will be offering his raw milk under the Georgia pet milk license in half gallon plastic containers and half gallon glass jars. This first week only plastic will be available. In plastic it will be $4.40/half gallon and in glass is $3.30/half gallon. There is a savings to buying it in glass but there is also an initial investment.

Explanation of Milk System Using
Half Gallon Mason Jars

If you are choosing to receive your raw milk from Cedar Rock Dairy in a glass container, here is information on getting started and your ongoing responsibilities.

Because this is system for milk delivery is ‘new’, I am going to walk you through the initial process step-by-step.

Explanation of System

The first few weeks will be a little confusing, so bear with me! For the first week, we will all receive our milk in plastic containers. When Sam comes to drop off the milk this Tuesday, he will pick up 3 sets of jars for each person who wishes to receive their future milk orders in glass jars.

Here are some examples:

I get 1 gallon of milk per week. Sam packages milk in ½ gallon Mason jars. I will need 2 jars for my 1 gallon of milk – that is ONE set. I must have 3 sets so I need 6 half gallon Ball Mason jars.

Mary gets 2 gallons of milk per week. Sam packages in 1/2gallon Mason jars. Mary will need 4 jars for her 2 gallons of milk – that is One set. Mary must have 3 sets, so she will need 12 half gallon Ball Mason jars.

Betsy get ½ gallon of milk per week. Sam packages in ½ gallons Mason jars. Betsy will need 1 jar for her ½ gallon of milk – that is ONE set. Betsy must have 3 sets, so she will need 3 half gallon Ball Mason jars.

Why do we need 3 sets?

Initially, Sam will have all of our sets of jars. He will fill one set for each of us and deliver them. We will use the milk and return the *CLEAN DRY *jars the next time we pick up milk. Sam will have already delivered our milk for the week before you drop off your washed set. So, if we do not have a third set, he would not have any jars to put milk in on the 3rd week. With 3 sets of jars the rotation will work smoothly and there are plenty of jars.

Where can I buy the jars? How much are the jars?

You have a choice.

1. We can provide the jars and the plastic lids for $3.00 each. This is a little more than you would pay if you shop around; however, it does include the lid and label.

2. You can purchase the jars yourself (usually Ace Hardware has them) and Walmart has the plastic lids)
The jars are only sold by the case and there are 6 to a case. Depending on where you can find them, they will range anywhere from $11.25/case to $13.99/case. The plastic lids run around $3.00 for 8 at WalMart and can be up to $5.99 at some Ace Hardware stores.

If you choose to get your own jars:

1. All jars must be ½ gallon Ball Mason Jars

2. All jars must have a metal lid and a plastic lid

3. All jars and metal lids will be labeled by us

4. All plastic lids will have the Farmer’s Raw Milk label on the top (as mandated by Georgia Law)

5. All jars must be washed and dried. Do not dry these jars in your dishwasher or in the oven!
The type of glass that is used for ½ jars will be weakened unless they are air dried! (I know this from experience! The bottoms will get weak and one day you will pick up a jar and the bottom will fall out!)

6. All jars and metal lids will be labeled when you bring them to the pickup location. We will use a unique colored label to differentiate our jars from other locally grown markets.

7. Email me and let know you have your own jars so I can get them from you to label prior to Sam picking up on Tuesday.

Can I just get my milk in a plastic container? How much will it be?

Yes! The cost of a half gallon of milk in a plastic container is $4.40 (or $8.80 per gallon)

How much is my milk if I get it in jars?

The cost of a half gallon of milk in a glass jar is $3.30 (or $6.60 per gallon)

Although you have an initial investment in the jars, they are yours and should you move, or drop from the Market for any reason, the jars are YOURS and will be returned to you. In the long run, you will save money by getting your milk in glass jars.

The market will open up tomorrow morning (Friday) for ordering and close at 5pm on Sunday.

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!