Technically, 3.5 stars. Glad to update upon a changed experience.
Pros: Raw milk(!!!) and other unprocessed foods. [am aware of the risks of raw dairy for human consumption and am trying it for my health to improve] Milk tasted wonderfully -- lightly creamy, easy to digest, satisfyingly fat.
Welcoming staff, if not a little too enthusiastic about the perfection of its wares. ;-) Prices plenty acceptable. Immediate benefit to the milk: My skin felt softer, hydrated, cleaner/fresher and more youth-like, my sugar cravings reduced, my teeth seemed to like that they were not made film-y, and my sense of satiety was strong, which in time and with other measures to not overeat could logically help me lose weight. A good decision I'd consider repeating.
Bonus: There is a very grounded and thoughtful employee, Debbie, who answered the phone when I called and she was able to share with me things that helped me consider making the purchase. Big kudos for her kindness.
Neutral: I now need to research (backwards, I know) about the farm's safety history and measures after reading about contamination at another raw milk dairy farm (feces is apparently a high risk of being in all milk, but obviously if in raw milk, the pathogens remain more likely). I am new to eating farm-fresh and hopeful it'll help with low immunity.
Cons: As mentioned, fanaticism about the products is there, and, maybe I'll become a raving fan as well, but safety first. There was a big 'con' when I physically felt the milk gallon that was first handed to me (on the Mobile Market truck in Woodstock, on a hot day) as warmer than comfortable.
The gallon was one kept out in the open, not in a cooler, and the truck was not cooled in it's entirety -- only the refrigerated cases. I can't understand why the staff and the farmer himself, Carl, would find this acceptable for raw milk when I'd think it need all the refrigeration it can get.
Carl, you mentioned 'we sell it so fast, it doesn't matter', but there was a tall and wide stack of maybe 40 gallons (I'm not great at estimating numbers by sight) sitting in the open, and there were not enough customers (5 came and went in the 40 minutes I was there and not all bought milk) that they were quickly being replenished, that I saw.
Further, and again, it was a HOT day (91 degrees high, in a metal-clad truck, parked fully in the intense, direct sunlight, at 1pm, close enough to mid-day peak temperature to be peak temperature). What soured me (pun intended) to 3.5 stars from a higher rating, despite my glowing complexion and well-feeling from the milk, is that the next gallon, which I asked to be given to me from the cooler instead, was still insufficiently cool.
I want cold milk, in fact, not cool milk.
At that point, the employee, and the farmer, Carl, were in collusion about 'it not mattering', with the employee protesting more (protest is a strong word but definitely, she argued the validity of felt-data, and, she diminished the need for properly-cold milk -- this was concerning).
I then asked for the gallon that I am given to be taken from lower in the crate vs the top tier -- a lower-level gallon is nestled, or insulated, amongst other gallons of cool milk. To my logic, that would be cooler (and hopefully, actually, COLD) vs. a gallon not flanked top, back, bottom, and sides by other milk containers. Carl then told the employee but in a slightly discounting tone 'go ahead and give it to her'.
My logic tested accurate, as when I was handed the 3rd gallon, it was cooler. It was not cold, but at the edge of cool and cold, and of minimally-acceptable-coldness for rational sense. This was, after all, RAW milk.
What I experienced upon (a) presenting a logical concern and (b) doing so with courtesy and kindness was that the organization, aka, the farm, was (c) not acting like a small-family owned operation, in my expectation. I'd think it'd be enough to have heard from me as they did (I'd mentioned to the employee) that I am pursuing raw milk for health reasons and have a sensitive constitution that they'd want to do well by it. (Full disclosure: I'm not in a life situation where I can plan well else I'd travel with a cooler bag)
My constitution means that I have a refined sensitivity to temperature and to kindness and blind spots. Excitement about the fabulousness of a product doesn't need to blind one to areas for improvement! read more