Ann Thompson | Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Federated Farmers believes the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) should allow farmers to sell unpasteurised or raw milk beyond the farmgate.
The Federation has made a sub- mission to this affect and also believes the milk would be better renamed farm milk.
MAF publicly consulted on unpasteurised milk sales so the ability to sell five litres of milk at the farm gate can be aligned with incoming legislation.
The submission was based on the results of an online survey. The re- sponses showed there are two farm milk markets - one at the farmgate serving friends, family and neighbours and another in urban communities.
The results showed most of the respondents want farm milk to be sold in urban communities, as well as at the farmgate.
Thirty five farmers selling farm milk responded. Two sold more than 3000 litres per week to up to 1000 customers through milk clubs. The milk was delivered by refrigerated vans to central drop-off points with regulated refrigerators.
Two farmers sold about 1000 litres per week from the gate.
The rest sold up to 600 litres per week each at the gate and through milk clubs.
In total, the farmers sold milk to about 2500 customers per week.
Farmers selling the milk as a significant part of their business had farming practices and testing regimes to provide the best quality milk. They also saw the value of transporting chilled milk to a centre near customers.
More than 400 people, who either bought or were in favour of making this milk readily available, also responded. Only four farmers opposed selling it on food safety grounds.
The respondents in favour of selling the milk indicated they wanted to work with the ministry to develop systems to make sure it was safe to drink. Federated Farmers also sees the value of working with MAF to develop a secondary market away from the farmgate. While smaller numbers of customers closely connected to a farm make risk management easier, the urban market appears much bigger than Federated Farmers or MAF anticipated.
The Federation understands the potential threat of letting second rate milk into the market but the sample who responded is just that - a sample. Imagine what could happen if MAF did not put systems in place because it did not recognise the secondary market. Getting systems right will keep this market above board.
Federated Farmers looks forward to working with MAF to make farm milk an option for Kiwis who want it.