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Price of Milk?


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#1 North Shore

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 09:08 AM

A question that I've always asked myself:  Cows eat grass; cows produce milk.  Island Farms and Dairyland collect said milk, process it, put it into 4l plastic containers, and ship it to local grocery stores.  I wander down the store aisle, and see that 4l of Island Farms milk is ~ $5.50, while 4l of Dairyland milk is ~$4.50.   Why?  Closest Island Farms dairy that I know of is on Blanshard next to SoFMA, while the dairyland one (according to the label) is up in Courtenay..

 

Anyone know?

 


Say, what's that mountain goat doing up here in the mist?

#2 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 09:09 AM

i'm not sure "grass" is altogether accurate.

 

what you pay for something is not always directly related to the cost of producing it.

 

see:  nike shoes.  designer perfume or handbags.  cola.  iphones.  computer memory.  contact lenses.  hearing aids.  recorded music.  movies.  television programming.  live sports.  live theatre/comedy/music performances.  bitcoin.  rare metals jewellery.  art.  gasoline.   lumber.  produce.  housing.


Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 April 2021 - 09:16 AM.


#3 marks_28

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 09:24 AM

Hah I have always wondered the same thing...



#4 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 09:35 AM

A question that I've always asked myself: Cows eat grass; cows produce milk. Island Farms and Dairyland collect said milk, process it, put it into 4l plastic containers, and ship it to local grocery stores. I wander down the store aisle, and see that 4l of Island Farms milk is ~ $5.50, while 4l of Dairyland milk is ~$4.50. Why? Closest Island Farms dairy that I know of is on Blanshard next to SoFMA, while the dairyland one (according to the label) is up in Courtenay..

Anyone know?

could be the dairyland cows have another income stream. separate from their milk stream. like movie extras or subjects for those paint-ins where soccer moms drink wine.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 April 2021 - 09:38 AM.

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#5 Rob Randall

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 09:35 AM

Milk is unique from most of the items on VW's list as there is a whole level of price oversight.

 

https://bcmilk.com/n...ebruary-1-2021/



#6 sebberry

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 10:04 AM

I remember as a kid in England we'd just go to the farm, trudge through the mud into the barn and buy a glass bottle of milk.  Don't ask me how much it was. 


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#7 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 10:16 AM

seems like a great system.

#8 max.bravo

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 10:22 AM

^Illegal though. There is a pretty sizeable underground market for raw (unpasteurized) milk. I know a hobby farmer who sells raw milk (mainly to anti vax soccer moms) at great risk... and charges a lot for it. 



#9 Matt R.

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 10:54 AM

I think it’s just a reflection of brand recognition. Island farms, even though it’s owned by Agropur, still plays on the “local” aspect. I can’t see any other reason for the price discrepancy.

Matt.

#10 Rob Randall

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:12 AM

Island Farms is the upmarket brand, Natrel is their discount brand. Exact same stuff in the jug.

 

An old local dairy farmer told me all milk is basically organic; no need to spend a fortune on the true organic milk.


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#11 Mike K.

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:15 AM

There’s got to be more to it, like no growth hormones in the cows used for organic milk, surely?
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#12 vortoozo

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:19 AM

I think the Courtenay plant closed.

 

Much of Island Farms milk production may have moved to Burnaby at the Agropur plant there (former Safeway/Lurcerne plant). I found reference that all jug milk production moved there in 2017 when they had the recall. I am not sure if it moved back. I thought I read somewhere recently that most milk consumed on the island is produced on the mainland, but I wasn't able to seek that out to confirm.

From my understanding the plant in Vic is mostly used for other dairy products (ice cream, etc).



#13 sebberry

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:22 AM

There’s got to be more to it, like no growth hormones in the cows used for organic milk, surely?

 

"Canadian dairy farmers do not use growth hormones such as BST or rBGH and ensure their milk is free of antibiotics. While the administration of growth hormones known as BST or rBGH to dairy cows is allowed in the US, it is illegal in Canada and therefore not permitted for use with any dairy cows."


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#14 Mike K.

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:22 AM

I think that sounds about right. Cream is made locally by IF, that I know for sure.

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#15 sebberry

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:23 AM

I think the Courtenay plant closed.

 

Much of Island Farms milk production may have moved to Burnaby at the Agropur plant there (former Safeway/Lurcerne plant). I found reference that all jug milk production moved there in 2017 when they had the recall. I am not sure if it moved back. I thought I read somewhere recently that most milk consumed on the island is produced on the mainland, but I wasn't able to seek that out to confirm.

From my understanding the plant in Vic is mostly used for other dairy products (ice cream, etc).

 

Drives me mental that I can't get Island Farms ice cream at Save On Foods.  I suppose that's probably why I have a Haagen Dazs addiction now :(


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#16 Rob Randall

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:33 AM

Drives me mental that I can't get Island Farms ice cream at Save On Foods.  I suppose that's probably why I have a Haagen Dazs addiction now :(

 

I got a second-hand Kitchenaid ice cream maker and paired up with Island Farms whipping cream from Costco makes for some first-rate ice cream at an unbeatable price.


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#17 Jackerbie

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:48 AM

Drives me mental that I can't get Island Farms ice cream at Save On Foods. I suppose that's probably why I have a Haagen Dazs addiction now :(


Some Save On locations will have a couple flavours but it's rare. What I have noticed is that some of the Western Family brand ice cream specifically says it's made in Victoria...

#18 sebberry

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 11:50 AM

I got a second-hand Kitchenaid ice cream maker and paired up with Island Farms whipping cream from Costco makes for some first-rate ice cream at an unbeatable price.

 

A friend has an ice cream maker.  Thanks Covid, I have to wait for my amaretto ice cream :(


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#19 vortoozo

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 04:44 PM

Some Save On locations will have a couple flavours but it's rare. What I have noticed is that some of the Western Family brand ice cream specifically says it's made in Victoria...

 

Honestly I prefer the Western Family ice cream to Island Farms brand.

Have you tried the mint chip for each? Night and day.

Believe they're both made here, but the recipes used for Western Family seem to be more premium.



#20 Matt R.

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Posted 12 April 2021 - 04:54 PM

I’ve put the question to three of my wholesalers to ask their dairy buyers and will report back.

On the ice cream tip, Better With is my new favourite “premium” brand.

Matt.
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