Nowadays, a lot of thought is put into where our produce, meat, seafood, and even flowers come from, with local and seasonal beating out price to many. But considering local for milk is just as important than our other food items. Why? Dairy farms across the country are rapidly going under — in the last six years alone, Tennessee has lost 264 of them. Though sales of whole milk and flavored milk products are on a gradual incline (roughly 1.5 percent per year) and demand for whole milk is high for restaurants and recipes, dairy farms are still facing a constant struggle. Prices for milk are roughly the same as they were 20 or 30 years ago, yet expenses for the farmer have tripled in that time, making it very difficult for them to stay inbusiness and even more pertinent where our money is going. Thankfully, supporting local farmers just got a whole lot easier with The Tennessee Milk Program. Born out of a partnership between farmers and The Department of Agriculture, this program sports aunique logo that designates the dairy product it’s placed on as 100% sourced, processed, and bottled (or packaged) in Tennessee. The logo is a helpful little friend, as perhaps the only thing better than buying something delicious is knowing your money goes directly to support the hands that made it. Middle Tennessee State University has not only been in the dairy business since the 1920s, it has been a pioneer and advocate for it for just as long. So, it comes as no surprise that their location became the first participant in the program. “In many ways, The Tennessee Milk Program started as a grass-roots effort from the dairy farmers of this state, and we’re proud to be a part of that at MTSU,” states Farm Laboratory Director Matthew Wade. “[It] representsthe resilience and dedication of Tennessee farmers. It’s no secret that [they’ve] faced many challenges lately,” he says, referencing the rapid decline in number of farms. The Tennessee Milk Program brings a refreshing, new platform on which dairy farmers can showcase their product to the public. “Even through these challenging times, Tennessee dairy farmers are providing the safest and highest-quality dairy products you can find,” says Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. “The Tennessee Milk Logo is a reliable way for consumers to know that the milk they purchase comes from here in the state and that they are supporting our dairy industry.
CURRENT DAIRY FARMS PARTICIPATING IN THE TENNESSEE MILK LOGO
MTSU Creamery
Rutherford County Sunrise Dairy
Cumberland County Groves Family Farms
Robertson County Hatcher Family Dairy
Williamson County Shop Springs Creamery
Wilson County Stooksbury Creamery
Jefferson County Broadacres Dairy (Weigels), Powell, TN
Visit drinktnmilk.com for the full list of where to purchase!