glass milk containers

madness · #1 11/11/09, 04:44 PM

A long time ago someone posted a link to a place that sold glass milk bottles - I think they even screen printed your farm name on them. We think we are ready to graduate from using canning jars to something a bit more sophisticated. Does anyone have a good source? For the life of me, I can't come up with anything for bulk purchases - just cutesy vintage replicas.

Thanks!

madness · #2 11/11/09, 04:47 PM

Ah, found the one I remember looking at!

http://www.stanpacnet.com/index.html

Any others for a comparison?

Maura · #3 11/11/09, 05:50 PM

Cool. Wish I could get just four half gallon bottles.

Up North · #4 11/11/09, 07:22 PM

I get all of my gallon and half gallon jars from uline. While I would like to have a more traditional looking glass jar for my milk sales, ordering from Uline is much much cheaper. I've ordered a lot of jars and they have all come in good shape. They ship out fast too. When I place an order I usually get it the next day. If you are lucky enough to live near Dallas I bet you could save on shipping and pick up your jars. http://www.uline.com/BL_8168/Glass-Jars

AR Transplant · #5 11/11/09, 07:30 PM

I hope this doesn't discourage you but you might ask around about any failed small dairies close to you. This is what a local dairy did for some of their bottles. Of course, you wouldn't get your name printed on them.

just a thought

madness · #6 11/11/09, 07:51 PM

Up North, we are currently using Uline jars along with the canning jars. They are much cheaper than "real" milk bottles and the lids seal better than the canning jars plastic lids. But they are kind of hard to pour from since they have a wide mouth and are so big around.

AR Transplant, that's not a bad idea. But I don't know of any such place around here!

mosepijo · #7 11/11/09, 08:07 PM

The woman I get my milk from is just having a hard time of getting the jars back from the customers. Some will pick up from 1-4 gallons a week and always "forget" to bring them back. She is always buying more jars.. Her and I buy all of our gallon jars thru Azure Standard. $12.20 per 4 plus $2.50 per 4 lids.

Up North · #8 11/11/09, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madness

Up North, we are currently using Uline jars along with the canning jars. They are much cheaper than "real" milk bottles and the lids seal better than the canning jars plastic lids. But they are kind of hard to pour from since they have a wide mouth and are so big around.

Well, this is good to know. I was thinking of getting some half gallon canning jars with the plastic lids. So with everything I'm going through you have "been there and done that" and are ready to move on. Has anybody tried these glass jars and lids for milk? http://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-3...id-handle.aspx

madness · #9 11/12/09, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Up North

Well, this is good to know. I was thinking of getting some half gallon canning jars with the plastic lids. So with everything I'm going through you have "been there and done that" and are ready to move on.

The Uline jars really aren't that bad. They are great because our strainer fits right in them. So we would still use them for cooling and storing milk. The canning jars are on their way out though. You can't tip them without a little milk dribbling out - and when we take them out of the cooling bath, they have to be tipped over, so we are always cleaning up milk from the sides. But I figured if we were going to buy new jars, maybe we'd go with "real" milk containers that are nice and easy to pour from and keep the wide mouth ones at the farm for cooling. But perhaps that's just too much complication!

Quote:

Has anybody tried these glass jars and lids for milk? http://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-3...id-handle.aspx

Hey, now that's cool! We only have a few folks that get a gallon at a time, but that would be great!

Maura · #10 11/12/09, 05:09 PM

Mosepijo, why doesn't you friend charge for the bottles? If she charged a four dollar fee for each bottle, refundable onto the next bottle, she might find more of them coming back.

Menglish · #11 11/12/09, 08:11 PM

Someone here gave me this link awhile back. I just ordered from them today.

http://www.localamishfarms.com/glass...s_for_sale.htm

mosepijo · #12 11/12/09, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Up North

Well, this is good to know. I was thinking of getting some half gallon canning jars with the plastic lids. So with everything I'm going through you have "been there and done that" and are ready to move on. Has anybody tried these glass jars and lids for milk? http://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-3...id-handle.aspx

I use to have one of these jars, but just didn't like cleaning the lid all the time from dried milk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maura

Mosepijo, why doesn't you friend charge for the bottles? If she charged a four dollar fee for each bottle, refundable onto the next bottle, she might find more of them coming back.

I have told her several ways around that but she works in a nursing home and a lot of her customers just show up and help themselves out of her cooler. (honor system) But "Oh yeah, I forgot to bring the jars." She just doesn't want to loose any customers. I keep telling her "$3 a gal. with a jar and $4 without one. I am not too sure some of these people don't owe her money for back milk anyway. She always says don't worry about it but I always pay on the spot.

I just like the plain ol' gallon jars or the Ball/Kerr half gallon. I also have some old quart milk bottles that I use to set it on the table for a meal.

Up North · #13 11/13/09, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosepijo

I use to have one of these jars, but just didn't like cleaning the lid all the time from dried milk.

I have told her several ways around that but she works in a nursing home and a lot of her customers just show up and help themselves out of her cooler. (honor system) But "Oh yeah, I forgot to bring the jars." She just doesn't want to loose any customers. I keep telling her "$3 a gal. with a jar and $4 without one. I am not too sure some of these people don't owe her money for back milk anyway. She always says don't worry about it but I always pay on the spot.

I just like the plain ol' gallon jars or the Ball/Kerr half gallon. I also have some old quart milk bottles that I use to set it on the table for a meal.

So far my customers are really good about bringing back their jars to swap out for filled ones. I ask for a $3 deposit per jar for new customers. Even with a deposit I think I have a bunch of jars floating around out there that may never come back. I guess I'll have to wait a bit longer and see. My DH and I went back and forth a bit on what the deposit should be. I would of preferred a $6 deposit so the entire cost of my jar is covered. DH thought that was too high and if some jars never came back than that should be figured into the cost of doing business.

April · #14 11/13/09, 07:55 AM

The jars I don't have a problem getting from restaurants, cafes, delis, etc., but finding better lids is difficult for me. You might ask around when you're out and about and see if you can re-purpose some free jars!

mosepijo · #15 11/13/09, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by April

The jars I don't have a problem getting from restaurants, cafes, delis, etc., but finding better lids is difficult for me. You might ask around when you're out and about and see if you can re-purpose some free jars!

I buy new lids from "Azure Standard" . They cost $2.50 for 4 of them.