Raw Milk Is A Trend, So Says The New York Times
Today's New York Times article about raw milk is sure to exasperate food scientists everywhere. It seems that demand for milk straight from the cow is steadily increasing:
Still, individual states determine how raw milk is bought and sold within their borders. While its sale for human consumption is illegal in 15 states, New York is one of 26 where it can be bought with restrictions. The chief one is that raw milk can only be sold on the premises of one of 19 dairy farms approved by the state. Clandestine milk clubs, like the one Mr. Milgrom-Elcott joined, are one way of circumventing the law, and there are others.Raw milk drinkers may praise its richer flavor or claim it is more nutritious than pasteurized milk. No matter why they drink it, the demand for it is booming. In 2000, the Organic Pastures Dairy Company in the San Joaquin Valley near Fresno became California’s first raw milk dairy with certified organic pasture land. This year its co-founder, Mark McAfee, expects it to gross $6 million — up from $4.9 last year.
We've spent the last half-hour or so attempting to figure out exactly what is allowed regarding the sale of raw milk in Florida. So far, we've found statute 502.091, which basically says that only Grade A pasteurized milk is allowed to be sold to the consumer or to a food service establishment.
So one would think case closed, no raw milk. But according to Real Milk, a Web campaign for raw milk, raw milk can be sold in Florida, as long as it's not for human consumption. And they list a number of places in the state where one can get raw milk. We're sure there's some sort of clandestine raw-milk society, so if you're interested, contact someone on that list. Then again, if you are interested, you've probably already done this.
Should This Milk Be Legal? [New York Times]
Florida Statute 502.091 [Florida Senate]
Real Milk [Official Site]
