Support Local Dairies
The best way to support local dairy farms is to DRINK WHOLE MILK!
As dairy farm families, we treat our cattle like family. The cows and calves are fed before we eat. Their health and well-being often come before our own.
Dairy farming is both a business and a cherished way of life.
Milk is one of the original farm-to-table foods, and it's one of the freshest products you can find at your local grocery store. Like "in season" 'local' produce, milk is always in-season! Real Dairy Milk comes from dairy farmers who feed, milk and care for their cows 365 days a year -- providing milk for all of us all year long!
Nationally, 95% of dairy farms are family owned and operated.
To see where your milk was bottled, check the plant code stamp on the top of the milk bottle near the expiration date, or sometimes the plant code is printed on the label. Plug the number into this website to see where it was bottled:www.WheresMyMilkFrom.com.
The first two numbers of the plant code represent the state. To view a list of state codes, see below (milk-plant codes by state). See picture below for state codes.
| State | FIPS Code Number |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 01 |
| Alaska | 02 |
| Arizona | 04 |
| Arkansas | 05 |
| California | 06 |
| Colorado | 08 |
| Connecticut | 09 |
| Delaware | 10 |
| District of Columbia | 11 |
| Florida | 12 |
| Georgia | 13 |
| Hawaii | 15 |
| Idaho | 16 |
| Illinois | 17 |
| Indiana | 18 |
| Iowa | 19 |
| Kansas | 20 |
| Kentucky | 21 |
| State | FIPS Code Number |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | 22 |
| Maine | 23 |
| Maryland | 24 |
| Massachusetts | 25 |
| Michigan | 26 |
| Minnesota | 27 |
| Mississippi | 28 |
| Missouri | 29 |
| Montana | 30 |
| Nebraska | 31 |
| Nevada | 32 |
| New Hampshire | 33 |
| New Jersey | 34 |
| New Mexico | 35 |
| New York | 36 |
| North Carolina | 37 |
| North Dakota | 38 |
| Ohio | 39 |
| State | FIPS Code Number |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 40 |
| Oregon | 41 |
| Pennsylvania | 42 |
| Puerto Rico | 43 |
| Rhode Island | 44 |
| South Carolina | 45 |
| South Dakota | 46 |
| Tennessee | 47 |
| Texas | 48 |
| Utah | 49 |
| Vermont | 50 |
| Virginia | 51 |
| Washington | 53 |
| West Virginia | 54 |
| Wisconsin | 55 |
| Wyoming | 56 |
To choose local Real Whole Milk, look for state seals (like PA Preferred in Pennsylvania) or the REAL® Seal. Talk to your grocer about how they source their store brand milk. Look for brand names on farm signs in your area showing who they supply. To read more on choosing REAL dairy products go tohttp://realseal.com/real-dairy-nutrition
Whole Milk often has a Red Cap, but some brands use a different color scheme for the different fat percentages, so check the label. Other Real Milk options are available for digestively sensitive people to enjoy Real Milk's nutritional benefits, such as real milk processed to be lactose-free, real milk from cows naturally producing only A2 protein, and real milk with lactaid enzymes added. Fermented and probiotic real milk drinks like kefir, acidophilus milk, probiotic milk and drinkable yogurt are also options.
Your local dairy farmers care about the care of their cows and the quality of your milk!
Here are what some local farmers have to say to you…
From a dairy farm in Waupaca, WI
Feeding America is no small task. It includes many early mornings and many late nights. Farmers pour their heart and soul into what they do because we take pride in producing clean and safe food for America.
For dairy farmers this includes treating all of their cows like V.I.P.s. We strive to ensure they have clean housing, nutritious food, and a safe environment to call home. Farmers will do whatever it takes to make sure the cows are happy and healthy. This includes usually feeding them before we've even had anything to eat, losing sleep, canceling plans because cows always make plans of their own.
It's a crazy hectic life but we do it because we care. We care for the consumers and the cows. -Amy K.
From a dairy farm in East Meredith, NY
We are a multi-generational farm in Delaware County NY. We are the small dairy farming family. Our mission is to have cows that are healthy and well cared for, produce safe, clean wholesome milk, and to care for the land and take care of the environment. Our family has done this here on our farm for over 60 years. We plan to continue this dairy operation for years to come. Support is needed and the best way is to buy milk, whole milk, drink milk, encourage others to drink milk! - Palmer Family
From a dairy farm in Lebanon, PA
The wonderful world that I am surrounded by as I walk into our barn. Cows eating their feed, their graceful, dairy necks sloping down as they grab a mouthful from the mound of forages in front of them. The calm, relaxed cows lay, contently, in their stalls, chewing their cud. Maternity pens, with fresh straw, for the mothers in waiting. The miracle of birth, watching the new calf take her first breath and blink her eyes for the first time, lifting a wet head up off the straw. A beautiful sunset over a promising field of green corn. “To be successful the first thing you have to do is fall in love with your work. - Sister Mary Lauretta.
My husband and I both started our dairy farm as first time farmers in 2001. We both came from a farm background, with the ambition to start our own. As I think back on the past 18 years of living this lifestyle, I am so thankful for the opportunity we have, and the fact we were able to raise our children around dairy cattle. The love of animals all of our children have is because of this lifestyle. Working to raise healthy, beautiful animals is hard work, but immensely rewarding. It is so special to see our kids excited about a new calf born from a cow they raised as their 4-h project. They have learned that there are hardships and frustrations in farming, but it does make the successes so much sweeter - Risser Family
From a dairy farm in Waupaca, WI
Farming is hard work. It's even harder when milk prices are low and there isn't much room for profit.
Farmers get a bad rap for how we treat our animals, and people say we're only concerned about making money. But did you know that most farmers put the needs of their animals before their own?
They sacrifice family time or time off to care for their animals?
They do everything in their power to ensure each and every single animal has clean housing, fresh water and food, even if that means we cut into our take-home pay.
While you sit down for a meal with your family, or go out for ice cream farmers are always working to produce clean and healthy food. The work never stops.
We encourage all of you to talk to your local farmer and ask questions. See for yourself where your food comes from.
Also, eat dairy. It does the body good. - Sheridan Flats Dairy
From a dairy farm in Womelsdorf, PA
We love our cows! We care for them daily by giving them fresh feed twice a day that's specially formulated by a nutritionist, we provide them with a comfortable environment by providing fresh air with fans and fresh bedding. We also have a licensed veterinary come twice a month just to check on the health of our cows. Our priority is to keep our cows happy and healthy. Our family loves the great tasting milk they make and drink over a gallon of whole milk a day to keep us up and going strong.
From a dairy farm in Ephrata, PA
We are second and third generation dairy farmers. Each of the 75 cows we milk have their own name. Our cow's health and nutrition is carefully watched and monitored by trusted dairy professionals. Our vision is to continue providing a clean and comfortable environment for our cows so they can produce a high quality milk for our consumers. We enjoy drinking cold, whole milk and you will too!
From a dairy farm in New Columbia, PA
We are a dairy and crop farm located in New Columbia, Union County, PA. My husband and I are 6th and 3rd generation farmers with two great kids that will hopefully, be the next farming generation. The majority of the cow families in our barn originally go back to the cow families in my parent's and grandparent's herd. Our cows have been part of the family since 1959. Today, we use a robotic milking system to milk our 60 Registered Holsteins, which are housed in a compost bedded pack barn. Our facility was designed with cow health, cow comfort, and high quality milk production as top priorities. There are few things more enjoyable to us than walking into our quiet, robot barn and watching clean, comfortable cows resting, eating, and milking 100% on their terms. We concentrate on growing high quality forage crops, and maximize their use in the cow's daily diet. As dairy farmers, we are proud of raising well fed, clean, healthy animals. Our family believes if we provide our cows with the utmost care, they will return the favor by producing high quality, good tasting, nutritious, milk.
Lately, margins have been very tight for dairy farmers everywhere. Some people have asked us why we still farm? While economics may dictate a different reality in the future, the truth is, we have a deep love and passion for doing what we do. Honestly, knowing that nothing we have in this life truly belongs to us, we feel privileged that God saw fit to entrust our family with the responsibility of caring for His creation. We immediately fall in love with a newborn calf the moment she is born, and we grieve when we lose the same animal years down the road. There are so many ways farmers witness God working on a daily basis. The greening of spring grass, newly sprouting corn plants in the field, kittens in the hay mow, and rain falling just in time to save the crop from drought are all examples. It's a powerful reminder that we are not in control, and yet He provides blessings daily. My heart swells when my children look up at me with proud eyes and declare that they will help mommy feed calves or push up TMR to the cows even though they are too small to push that large pile in front of them. I can only pray they will have the opportunity to experience the joy and humility that comes with the task of caring for God's creation and feeding the world.
As farmers, we would like to thank the consumers who buy our products, and in turn, help to ensure the security of the family farm.
From Red Root Holstein from Hewitt, MN
We do what we do, not because this is a life of ease, but a life of fulfillment. It feels like our place in the world-producing great food to feed people.
We are currently raising the 4th generation on our family farm. Each of us have our part on the farm to make it work and we feel very blessed to have this lifestyle for our kids. This lifestyle is full of trials and also victories; things that build character and give a feeling much deeper than any paycheck could give you.
I think we'd like consumers know that we care so much more about our animals and the land that can be explained. We love seeing things prosper and we dedicate our lives to their well being. Farmers are efficient and proficient in so many areas of business and life!