Raw milk continues to attract fans

There have been quite a few surprising side-effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, and the enforced lockdown that came with it. People have taken up new crafts and hobbies, spent more time this year working on their gardens than they have in the last decade and discovered a love for DIY, sprucing up the homes that they have been stuck inside for so long. Many people have also had time to sit and think about their lives and about the modern world in general, looking at their diets, their levels of exercise and things like pollution levels in the cities and towns that most of us live in.

It wasn’t really surprising, therefore, that as soon as lockdown restrictions eased, thousands of people jumped into their cars and headed out of those towns and cities and into the countryside or to the nearest beach. There are reports from the online property portals stating that demand for rural properties and homes with gardens has surged since lockdown. It seems that we have finally come to see that a simpler approach to life might be something to aspire to.

This increased desire to simplify our lives has also permeated through the food and drinks industry, with people working hard to shop locally, to grow their own fruit and vegetables and to question the provenance and quality of the food and drink they consume. Raw milk is just one product that has seen a real surge in interest, and in today’s blog post, we take a look at why this might be.

For quite some time, the UK’s dairy industry has been in decline. Competition from cheap imports, the decline of the traditional breakfast, and a society that simply drinks less milk these days have all had an impact on the dairy industry. Farming across all sectors has also had a tough time, and to survive and thrive, farmers have had to look at ways to diversify, in order to offer a product that consumers are interested in and want to buy. Raw milk is a key area of diversification, and it seems to be going from strength to strength.

Environmentally-friendly milk bottles

Raw milk tends to appeal to people who are looking for a simpler, more environmentally-friendly approach to their regular grocery shop. Given that it is generally sold in glass milk bottles directly from the farm or at local farmers’ markets, it ticks lots of boxes in terms of sustainability, provenance, recycling and food miles. As concern grows about the over-processed nature of food in general, raw milk is considered a purer, more natural product that can help stimulate a healthy digestive system and reduce allergies.

It’s easy to see why it has seen a surge in interest during the lockdown. And now that lockdown restrictions have relaxed, sales are booming across the country. This is particularly true for on-farm outlets where customers can grab a couple of milk bottles and enjoy the novelty of seeing the cows that actually produced their milk. Farm tours are another way for hard-pressed farmers to diversify, and they are incredibly popular. As a society, we have become quite disconnected from the food that we eat, so being able to meet the dairy cows or say “hello” to pigs or sheep can really help people to think about welfare standards, provenance and sourcing ethically-reared meat and dairy products.

Do you need glass milk bottles?

If you are a small-scale farmer looking to sell raw milk, we may have the milk bottles you are looking for. Our glass milk bottles come in a range of sizes with twist-off caps in a variety of colours, including gold, silver, black and white. We supply all of our products, not just milk bottles, in any quantity including pallet packs. Glass milk bottles are recyclable and appeal to consumers who are keen to embrace the ‘full package’ of ethically-produced, natural and environmentally-friendly milk. Get in touch today to discuss how we can help with your milk bottle requirements.

Is raw milk for me?

Government guidelines stress that raw milk should be avoided if you are pregnant, if you have any type of auto-immune disease or if you are undergoing chemotherapy. Young children are also advised not to drink raw milk. For everyone else, however, it really is worth trying, to see if you prefer the more natural taste, and to find out whether you experience long term health benefits, such as better skin condition and reduced allergy symptoms.

Have you tried raw milk, or made a permanent switch, ditching the pasteurised milk that most of us buy from the supermarkets? Has it helped your eczema or other conditions, or given you a stronger digestive system? Why not share your story with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? And if you have any questions, share them with our friends and followers via social media, so others who have already tried raw milk can answer them!