When you have a milk cow, you tend to be curious about other people who have dairy cows, too. There are two, small, Jersey dairies near me that have stores to sell their products to the community. I recently went to visit (a.k.a. spy on) these two little stores, so I could check out their wares. This really isn’t a case of “keeping up with the Joneses,” since I don’t have a dairy. (Two cows that I can hand milk do not a dairy make.) It’s more that I just like to see how other people have turned a profit with their milk cows.

I found these little homestyle stores to be adorable and enjoyed the variety of products they offered. I was impressed with the amount of work that went into each and the cooperation it took to get so many products from different sellers.

At Jersey Girls Milk Company, you walk inside the dairy to a little room that is its “store.” Same-day raw milk is sold at $6 a gallon. Other dairy products included flavored yogurts and cheeses. There were also wares available from other sellers. These included coffee, homemade bread, goat milk soaps, canned goods, and eggs.

Jersey Girls is where I purchased two bull calves to put onto my milk cows (one last year and one this summer).  

Even closer to me is Trimble Farms. Trimble has expanded his store and his variety of products in recent years. He sells his raw milk for $8 a gallon. He also sells beef. Just a few of the other goods he has in his store include eggs (chicken and duck), canned goods, raw honey, nuts, beef jerky, produce, salad dressings, and soaps. 

I’m sure one of the reasons, if not the main one, these dairies have small stores is because of the state law regarding the sale of raw milk. If you are going to sell raw milk, the state of Texas requires that you do so on site (from the “point of production”) directly to the consumer. No middle man is allowed. So, raw milk can’t be sold at a grocery store, farmer’s market, or farm stand. Customers have to come to the dairy to buy it. State law also requires the dairy have a Retail Milk Permit, which means the seller must comply with all regulations related to raw milk found in the Texas Agriculture Code and, of course, pay fees.     

(Warning: The following is my strong opinion and may be seen as political, disrespectful, and anti-government. But, I don’t care.) Texas law regarding raw milk is extremely stupid. It’s un-American. It’s a breach of freedom. And, it’s oppressive. The state government has decided that raw milk is some sort of dangerous substance that it can’t let loose on the public, apparently. This means that if a person sells some of their raw milk from their own family milk cow to someone else, they are breaking the law. Picture it. Me in the back alley, not with narcotics or weapons, but with raw milk, slyly selling it to another consenting adult for a couple of bucks that I pocket. Oh, yes. I’m a criminal for sure in that scenario. And I’ll leave you with that thought…