What it means to us...

If you follow Country Valley facebook or this blog, you probably know that Country Valley Milk was very successful at the recent Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy show (2011).  We received Champion ribbon award for our Lush Natural Yoghurt and a Champion Award for the best milk ( Country Valley Organic Lite ). As  well as winning the Most Successful Milk Exhibitor . 

 To a VERY small processing business , this means that somebody recognised that although our  labels were hand done and our tubs were filled by two  very dedicated ladies or that someone had to  physically place each bottle onto the filler line.... your end product was as good OR better than the output of many ,multi million dollar processing plants across the state

To us , that is the golden handshake for our paid (and unpaid) labours day in and day out. If you put a product out in a small community and it is not 100% you get the feedback very quickly... When we receive these accolades the whole community reacts. People we dont know  phone,email and talk to us on facebook. They relate their story AND they stand up and be recognised as a Country Valley customer.To all these people we say CONGRATULATIONS, because they already knew what the judges just found out... the products are premium quality and we get them to you with low food miles and at  a sustainable price for you , us and  THE FARMER.

Everyone one of us likes to think our work hours are not just  CLOCK  IN/ CLOCK OUT. Awards like the ones we received, let everyone on the factory floor feel their effort has been justified. They all physically touched each bottle  and  it was their efforts to do their job properly that saw these rewards. At each morning tea and every lunch break, the topic of awards comes  up.... "I made that tub of yoghurt." , "I bottled that batch of milk.."
Can your job give you that opportunity?  We  feel very chuffed by the whole experience.

If we could ask for any flow-on for these awards, I think we would ask that the public stop and ask themselves... Do I want to give my family the best? Does the multi national company I currently buy from have my childs  and my country's future in mind?  DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR!   Go to your local farmers market, talk to the producers and buy products that are made with the care and excitement you  put into your young  childs birthday cake. They and WE need your support to continue to fight the good fight against our huge corporate competitors .

Duped by the Duopoly????

• Do you choose the doctor your family uses?
• Do you use your own judgement when you choose a restaurant?
• Can you make decisions without corporate interference?
• Is the greater good important to you?

People  today can think for themselves. Then why do the two most powerful players in the struggle for your food dollar think the Australian consumer needs to be hoodwinked into using their stores,  by artificially reducing the price on one item we all need (ie milk)?  Their intent  is that we  buy other more expensive products or are enticed to buy products we just don't need.

This is the case with the $2.00 milk you are enjoying today! If this UNSUSTAINABLE price is maintained, who do you think will pay the estimated $30,000,000 shortfall in the bottom line of these two companies? Coles says it will...I suggest we will pay more at the checkout and the farmer who produced this milk and the farmer who produced the other brands (just to give us product choice) will be forced into more hardship.

Some people in our community are struggling to meet food costs and the cheaper products will be a Godsend....Not one farmer would begrudge these people assistance. For the rest of us, why not stand up and be counted. If you enjoy a latte or cappuccino during your day or you have made a life choice to give your family the best you can afford , then consider whether those SUPERMARKETS are the best place for you to spend your food dollar?

Did you go into the SUPERMARKET and choose to buy the $2.00 milk? Were you coerced into that shop by an aggressive marketing campaign that will see the working end of that product adversely affected.... DID YOU BUY ANYTHING ELSE? Were you duped into advancing the company's cause?

Small milk processing businesses like Country Valley cannot compete with these prices. Our scales of economy prevent us from slashing 33% from our product price. Our product has proven to be a premium product. Country Valley demands our small scale producers maintain a very high standard of milk production. We are going to enormous lengths to gear our plant towards a low carbon footprint and we are always very aware that we need to embrace the ethos of sustainability.

These ideals come at a cost, and we want to be able to carry these costs into the future....we cannot if YOU choose to take the short term easy option.

Don't be used in a marketing war between two giant corporations. Think of the consequence of your decision and stand up for what you believe in.... a better Australia!

Careful what you wish for...

  The  major meltdown  with our labels lead many of our staff to beg for a new system... IT'S ON THE WAY!!!

   Some people have been concerned with the clarity of our "Use By " date.... The new  printer is in the mail.

    Lots of  people have, over many years,  told me they  thought our leader was  on another planet... WELL,  now we have SOLAR POWER.

  Sadly , to all those who told him to "Go to ...." We do not have under floor heating... YET.

The Story behind the "Bobby Calf"

  As a company, Country Valley Milk whole heartedly supports local dairy farmers. Speaking  for myself,  I would like to respond to recent press reports of cruelty in the treatment of Bobby Calves....
  Dairy farmers to a person live and breathe animals. They get up EVERY morning , feed , milk and care for their animals... No flexi-time , no overtime and no penalty rates.
  It is a fact that cows must calve before they can lactate. In the greater farming community,genetic interference is frowned apon , therefore some of the offspring will be male  and some female. In the DAIRY industry males do not produce milk so they are a commodity with limited value, but they are part of the farmers herd.
  The pregnant cow calves in a custom designed paddock were she is comfortable. The farmer will bring mother and calf back to the dairy almost always between milkings (ie  after 9.00am -- before 3.00pm). If the calf is born overnight it will be with its mother at least until 3.00pm the next day. The calf has complete access to Mum over this period, the calf  suckles and is soothed  in this very important period in both their lives.
  At the next milking , the cow is placed in the herd , her rich colostrum milk  is collected for the first 3--5 days, this is fed to any calves that have been born recently. The new calf settles when Mum is away, because its natural instincts tell it to lie down and remain still and quiet.  It has a full stomach and needs only to survive  if it were in the wild.
  Next milking Mum is returned to the dairy with the herd... because her milk is still not suitable for human consumption, the farmer  puts the cow  with her calf and the baby wastes no time  enjoying  Mum's morning or afternoon offering.
  This cycle continues until sale day... in most cases in rural areas, sale day is  once a week and the calves are mostly picked up from the dairy as early as possible on that morning... well before the farmer has had time to collect his new born calves. Therefore, most of the  calves that the dairy farmer sends to the sale have been fed regularly and they have also grown accustomed  to separation from Mum.
  Every farmer would love to be in a position to rear every one of his calves, but the economics of this in an industry prone to flood , fire, drought and now public opinion, force him/her to make some hard decisions... one of these is they must sell young male calves to enable them to rear replacement stock for their future livelihood.
  These calves are part of the farming family and every farmer worth his salt, will insist that every animal be treated with care and compassion.