Raw Milk Sales??????

LostnEurope · #1 04/05/07, 09:10 AM

Hey Folks, since I am still in the planning stages I thought I would fish around for some Info......What states allow the sale of Raw goat milk and/or cheese from said milk..Dairy goats are becoming a large part of my planned Farm as I would like to be able to do this as a living...The Goats will not be the only income provider....Would really like to have dairy goats with fresh milk for sale and homemade cheeses to sell at farm and online..So what states can I do this in without having to pasteurize the milk........Any help and links would be greatly appreciated.......Thanks, Mike

wardarden · #2 04/05/07, 02:43 PM

Mike,

Try to visit www.realmilk.com I do not know if they have a list of what states do or don't but wouldn't a map showing states with colors be great? I live in Tennessee and it is not legal here. If I sell milk it is black market! I tell my teenage kids if they see me being hauled off in handcuffs it's for selling milk! Laws sure can be stupid.

Missy M · #3 04/05/07, 05:09 PM

Check with the individual state that you live in. Some allow exemptions for raw milk and others it's just a flat no.

HazyDay · #4 04/05/07, 05:49 PM

Im not sure but I think all of Canada doesn't want you to sell raw milk. I do sell milk and cheese to people who come to me not me going to them. What they do with it I don't know. Most have pets so they may feed it to them. I will not sell to any one with out asking where they got my number and if I don't know who they are I try to not to sell it to them. Most are my neighbors or members of our church so they shouldn't tell. It's the dairy farmers I worry about. they talk so much I could get in alot of CRap! But hey Im a 15 year old teen. I don't think I will get to much if Im caught! I have been asked to sell milk to our heath food store but it's just I don't need the stress if wondering if some one sues them becuse they got sick and then you tell I sold it to them. Better to keep it small. But raw milk can be sold is labelled as pet food or for making soaps! Thats what im moring into soaps we have a store in town that needs to sell goat milk soap! And hey I could always make some my self!

Heidi's_Goats · #5 04/05/07, 06:21 PM

Here is the state regulations summarized:

http://www.realmilk.com/happening.html

Heidi

LostnEurope · #6 04/06/07, 02:10 AM

I want to thank everyone for there replies.Heidi really big thanks for that link....It really is a shame that in our country someone selling natural, wholesome, raw milk in some places is treated like a drug dealer....Thanks, Mike

hoggie · #7 04/06/07, 02:34 AM

I don't have a clue about the US but where I am there was a loophole. A lady used to have goats and sell the milk raw. She put it all in the freezer, and sold it frozen. Apparently that got around the law. Don't know if it would work there but it might be worth considering

hoggie

shereen · #8 04/06/07, 08:19 AM

In PA if you are inspected and have a raw milk license you may sell it on farm.
The milk is sold in new plastic containers (that you provide) from a company that the inspectors recommends.
You have to have you milk tested once a month for ecoli, salmonella, and SSC. Once a year the does are tested for TB & Brucellosis.
Pretty fair if you ask me. We are 5 miles form the NY border and choose to start our dairy in PA for this reason alone.

LostnEurope · #9 04/06/07, 09:58 AM

I wish to thank everyone for their replies..After looking at the link Heidi provided it looks like most of my choices for States will have to be reevaluated...But, the good thing is that my HOME state has very workable rules, just haven't decided if i want to go back to Texas (I know it's hard, being a native TEXAN and all) due to the Heat which will probably just get worse over the next 20 years and several personal reasons..Family would be Elated if I returned there but still haven't decided..Arkansas was my #1 choice, preferably in the Ozarks, due to land prices, and numerous factors but they have really slumped now due to their Raw Milk Laws........Mike

CountryHaven · #10 04/06/07, 10:18 AM

Thanks for that link, Heidi! I remembered most of that for 'Illinois' and it seems to still apply. I think I'll still call as I've had a few folks ask me if I'd sell them milk when I have extra. (Right now, kiddies are drinking all of my goats milk and then some still). Previously when I had goats I had a sign on the highway by me saying 'goats milk' and an inspector stopped at my door one morning. He was pleasant, but said I had to take the sign down. I could sell it as long as the customers brought their own bottles, BUT I couldn't openly advertise it. (Stupid rule that last part, lol). However, the 'customer must put the milk in their bottle themselves part is new to me. I'll have to remember that.

LOL Back when I sold rabbits for meat I remember laughing because we can't sell butchered meat off the farm BUT if a customer wanted it butchered, I was told to just have them 'hold' a part of the rabbit while you do the rest. Even just touching the leg or something while I did the work 'implied' that the buyer was 'helping' and therefore doing it themselves and that was okay.---silly, silly, silly... but hey, whatever rocks their boats. LOL