If you sell milk

Lada · #1 07/23/10, 01:16 PM

What do you put it in? I always store ours in glass, but I've got a few people interested in buying it fresh (not frozen) and don't want to loan out all my glass jars.

topside1 · #2 07/23/10, 01:25 PM

Have them buy yours or direct them to a jar source...I sell milk and they must bring or buy from me the exact type jar...In my case 1/2 gallon mason jars with plastic white lids. This way we just exchange bottles whenever the customer picks up their milk...Topside

Heritagefarm · #3 07/23/10, 01:25 PM

We had them bring their own jars, but now we offer the jars for sale/deposit, so people can buy the jar and then use that to buy their milk in. Also at this point, we have people wash their own jars, and then we just run them through the dishwasher to sanitize them, cuts down on our cleaning.

CarolynRenee · #4 07/23/10, 01:47 PM

We use the 1/2 gallon mason jars. Easiest to clean I think. Problem is getting BACK the jars from customers.

I got burned two years ago from ONE lady, never got four jars back (she'd bring back 2 jars, but want 3 jars of milk or her son would come to pick up milk but forget to bring the empty jars. When I asked her for them back, she said she KNEW she didn't have any of mine, they were all hers, how she could tell, I don't know - I won't sell to her anymore & lesson learned).

So I'd be nice, but firm about the jars & either get a deposit, make them buy their own or just tell them to bring whatever container they want & you can pour from your jars right into theirs.

I was even thinking of somehow etching my name in the mason jars, just in case anyone "thought" they might be their jars, but I never got around to it.

Laverne · #5 07/23/10, 01:47 PM

I had a gal bring her own jars and she thought they were clean but one especially looked and It didn't smell clean so I had to wash her jars. Otherwise if I put my milk in her jars the milk could spoil prematurely and she'd think it was my milk that had a problem. So I clean all jars of customers.

Alice In TX/MO · #6 07/23/10, 01:47 PM

I bit the bullet and bought a case of half gallon plastic milk jugs and lids. They cost $.39 each. Yup, that's thirty nine cents.

I love them. Fill 'em, and stick 'em in the freezer.

Dairy square bottle with handle.
www.dahltechplastics.com

deineria · #7 07/23/10, 02:09 PM

Oh, wow, Alice! That is a helpful link! How cheap!

southerngurl · #8 07/23/10, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I bit the bullet and bought a case of half gallon plastic milk jugs and lids. They cost $.39 each. Yup, that's thirty nine cents.

I love them. Fill 'em, and stick 'em in the freezer.

Dairy square bottle with handle.
www.dahltechplastics.com

What about shipping? And how many is a case?

Alice In TX/MO · #9 07/23/10, 02:40 PM

108 in a case, and that included shipping.

You have to order over the phone and mail them a check. They don't have online ordering or credit card capability at this time.

farmerjohn · #10 07/23/10, 03:39 PM

Thanks so much Alice. I have been using the 2 litre pepsi bottles. I would rather be able to purchase a bottle than to possibly not have a pepsi bottle clean or in trouble with the bottle police. Also no one seems to want to return mason jars and I get tired of asking and is so common it would be hard to prove who they belonged to. Even a permanent mark is no guarantee it will be returned. Thanks again.

ozark_jewels · #11 07/23/10, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topside1

I sell milk and they must bring or buy from me the exact type jar...In my case 1/2 gallon mason jars with plastic white lids. This way we just exchange bottles whenever the customer picks up their milk...Topside

That is what I do.

Lada · #12 07/23/10, 05:01 PM

Thanks for the link, Alice. I think I might get a case...and hey, while I'm at it, maybe a plastic doll head? :O LOL!

pygmybabies · #13 07/23/10, 05:39 PM

alice....do you sell to customers frozen milk? If you put in freezer do you just but in fridge to thaw? We have dont that with regular milk when we realize once that we both bought 2 gallons of milk the same day.

Alice In TX/MO · #14 07/23/10, 06:05 PM

I have a new customer that thought he was going to buy a dairy doe, but called back and asked if he could buy frozen milk to keep on hand for when his Boers kidded. He has 60 Boers and usually needs to bottle feed some kids. He asked for half gallon containers.

So, I'm cleaning out a freezer by feeding old stuff to the dogs and composting other stuff. Filling the open spots with jugs of milk.

I have a soap customer who wants hers in 3 cup amounts, so I freeze milk for her in quart Zip Lock bags, laid flat.

When hubby goes out on a drilling job (oilfield), he takes some of the frozen milk in Zip Lock bags, too for using in his hot cereal.

southerngurl · #15 07/23/10, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

That is what I do.

But you can't really freeze those, right? I can't sell milk fresh, it's not consistent enough and milk wouldn't be fresh enough when they pick it up.

KimM · #16 07/23/10, 06:35 PM

Do they come with the caps or are they extra? Also do they need to be sanitized before filling them?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I bit the bullet and bought a case of half gallon plastic milk jugs and lids. They cost $.39 each. Yup, that's thirty nine cents.

I love them. Fill 'em, and stick 'em in the freezer.

Dairy square bottle with handle.
www.dahltechplastics.com

ozark_jewels · #17 07/23/10, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southerngurl

But you can't really freeze those, right?

Right. I only sell it fresh. The customer calls, I save milk the next milking and they pick it up the milking after that. I am feeding all my excess to the dairy heifers, so I don't have to worry about it not being fresh.

topside1 · #18 07/23/10, 07:39 PM

Emily it does work out great...Same day, same time, exchange empty bottles for milk filled bottles. I'm of course small time and have the Tennessee Share Program involving my customers. They love the goats and bring, bread, apples, and bag full of other approved snacks....I'm happy.

Tallabred · #19 07/23/10, 08:51 PM

I buy the pourable half gallon glass jars with a rubber stopper from Walmart. I sell the jar to the customer for $5. If they bring it back no charge, forget it another $5. It keeps it simple. They are also rectangle in shape and stack well in the refrigerator.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #20 07/24/10, 02:04 AM

Look for a local source also, although I used Dahltech for years, Bordens and OakFarms which are both milk companies in my area, both make the plastic milk jugs and lids, they sell milk, orange juice, cream etc...in stores. They sell these milkjugs to the public on certain days. So much cheaper than shipping in from Dahltech. Vicki