In praise of the milkman

[TheArtfulDogger]

I have been watching the current problems that our dairy farmers are facing with falling milk prices partly due to the milk glut and falling international demand but also partly due to the big supermarkets selling milk at low prices.

Years ago when I was young every household had fresh milk delivered to their door and there were three main companies across the UK (Unigate, Express Dairy and the Co-op) and a number of smaller ones. The price they charged per pint was largely fixed by the milk marketing board who also controlled supplies.

They also acted as the forerunners for recycling by using glass bottles that were collected when empty and used again, there was a community element that allowed people living alone to chat to the Milkie and in turn the milkman would also notice when there was a problem if milk wasn't taken in - sometimes due to forgetting to tell the milkman they were away but often it could be someone ill or worse in the house - and appropriate action would be taken.

Come rain or shine milk was delivered and other things too (bread and the strange drinks of cherryade or cream soda) As a point of interest, this is sort of what the supermarkets have reinvented with home delivery services for your groceries...

Sadly that has mostly gone today, a few people get milk delivered but most go and buy the plastic containers from supermarkets or other stores. I used to help the milkman when I was a child delivering milk and collecting money at the weekend and it taught me the value of money, gave me a sense of pride by working and earning my own spending money but also taught me how to add up complex sums on the fly if orders were changed when collecting money (a pint was 12.5p)

I am not lamenting in the past or suggesting that we all go back to using a milk delivery service but I do wonder if had continued to utilise milkmen (and women) in the same way we did in the 70's and 80's would we still there still be this crises in the dairy industry and would we be recycling less plastic in favour of glass bottles on the doorstep?

Don't get me wrong, the milk delivery system wasn't perfect, the milk freezing on door steps in winter, birds pecking the tops to get to the cream and the occasional strange object floating in the milk (cigarette ends were common as they stuck to the glass in the sterilisation plants) but it does lead to the question of would we, the dairy industry and potentially the environment be better off if we still used milk delivery services in the same way today?

[????]

We get milk delivered in SE22, has made me all nostalgic

[numbers]

I get milk delivered here in Norfolk. Glass bottles. Gold and silver top.

[Otta]

I had milk delivered for a while a couple of years ago, but they overcharged me twice so that was the end of that. Shame because I liked having the glass milk bottles.

[david_carnell]

Like Otta I didn't have a good experience despite desperately wanting to.

Also, in the current milk crisis, Dairy Crest (the number one delivery service remaining) are one of the worst offenders.

Guidance from the NFU and milk farming representatives suggests Abel and Cole or Riverford pay good money to their suppliers if you're able to add it on to your existing delivery service.

Shamefully, the Coop are also a top offender which considering their "ethical" stance (ignoring internal financial issues) is a joke.

[johnie]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I had milk delivered for a while a couple of years

> ago, but they overcharged me twice so that was the

> end of that. Shame because I liked having the

> glass milk bottles.

We get ours delivered, but Dairy Crest are phasing out glass bottles.

http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/end-of-an-era-dairy-crest-prepares-to-wave-goodbye-to-milk-in-glass-bottles/371795.article

The glass bottle is the main reason I like it. The comments on the article above suggest I'm not alone.

[SLad]

We get ours from Abel and Cole and it is one of the most delicious drinks on the planet (which sadly I can no longer enjoy as I've become lactose intolerant). Bloody lovely though.

[Seabag]

I there a goat herder out there, one who'd deliver to the high pastures of Upper Sydenham?

(not Lower Sydenham, ew!)

A couple o'jugs every few days would be perfect

[david_carnell]

SLad Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We get ours from Abel and Cole and it is one of

> the most delicious drinks on the planet (which

> sadly I can no longer enjoy as I've become lactose

> intolerant). Bloody lovely though.

Can you "become" intolerant to lactose? I would have thought you either always were or were not.

[maxxi]

depends how much it gets on your nerves

[red devil]

Humphrey and the great Frank Muir...

Humphrey and The Greatest...

 

[keano77]

johnie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Otta Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I had milk delivered for a while a couple of

> years

> > ago, but they overcharged me twice so that was

> the

> > end of that. Shame because I liked having the

> > glass milk bottles.

>

> We get ours delivered, but Dairy Crest are phasing

> out glass bottles.

> http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/en

> d-of-an-era-dairy-crest-prepares-to-wave-goodbye-t

> o-milk-in-glass-bottles/371795.article

>

> The glass bottle is the main reason I like it.

> The comments on the article above suggest I'm not

> alone.

I agree Johnie. I get my milk delivered by Milk and More (Dairy Crest) and pay 82p a pint for semi-skimmed. Happy to pay it to keep our milkman in work and you can't beat cold milk from a glass bottle. As most of the comments on your grocer link show, if they withdraw glass bottles I may as well get my milk cheaper from the supermarket.

[adonirum]

numbers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I get milk delivered here in Norfolk. Glass

> bottles. Gold and silver top.

Hope you don't mind my asking, numbers, but whereabouts in Norfolk are you (or near to anyway).

Sorry to go off track slightly.

[numbers]

david_carnell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Also, in the current milk crisis, Dairy Crest (the

> number one delivery service remaining) are one of

> the worst offenders.

>

> Guidance from the NFU and milk farming

> representatives suggests Abel and Cole or

> Riverford pay good money to their suppliers if

> you're able to add it on to your existing delivery

> service.

>

> Shamefully, the Coop are also a top offender which

> considering their "ethical" stance (ignoring

> internal financial issues) is a joke.

Oh no I didn't realise that, thought going anywhere but the supermarket would be better. Really shocked about the Coop too!

I occasionally get proper buttermilk, cheeses and butter from Nortons Dairy but not nearly enough on a regular basis.

[Otta]

Just seen that ASDA are going to 28p a litre. But still 2-4p less than farmers reckon it costs to produce.

[hpsaucey]

So is there anyone more ethical delivering the glass bottle variety?

Looked at Milk and More a while ago but was a bit put off by the Dairy Crest connection.

HP

[Otta]

http://gu.com/p/4bgg7?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Messaging