the peoples supermarket - channel 4

FelinePrincess

For those who aren't getting milk from a milkman and feel bad for the poor dairy farmers, can I suggest buying Calon Wen Organic Fairtrade Milk? With it being fairtrade the farmers will get a fair price for the milk, and sometime I've noticed in morrisons it can be cheaper then the normal milk

Just checked the website and it's only available in wales and borders at most supermarkets but it is available from waitrose and ocado in england.

phizzimum

FelinePrincess wrote: »

For those who aren't getting milk from a milkman and feel bad for the poor dairy farmers, can I suggest buying Calon Wen Organic Fairtrade Milk? With it being fairtrade the farmers will get a fair price for the milk, and sometime I've noticed in morrisons it can be cheaper then the normal milk

Just checked the website and it's only available in wales and borders at most supermarkets but it is available from waitrose and ocado in england.

I was also appalled to see the dairy farmer who was having to sell his milk at a loss. I've been getting milk from a milkman (milk&more) for about a month now - for the convenience. Do you know if Dairy Crest pay a fair price for their milk, or are they as bad as the supermarkets?

kitschy

phizzimum wrote: »

I was also appalled to see the dairy farmer who was having to sell his milk at a loss. I've been getting milk from a milkman (milk&more) for about a month now - for the convenience. Do you know if Dairy Crest pay a fair price for their milk, or are they as bad as the supermarkets?

There was a farmer in our local paper who farms land that his family have worked for 5 generations, who is having to do the same. I would love to be able to buy his milk directly and would be happy to pay more - does anyone know if this is possible? I don't mind paying more for a quality, local product where I know that animals are treated well.

anguk

FelinePrincess wrote: »

I was a little surprised at how little discount they got too, especially with having to pay a joining fee aswell as working there.

I wondered if the discount was so small because they didn't have many members? The US store had 1000s of members so was able to give a higher discount for less hours worked.

kitschy wrote: »

There was a farmer in our local paper who farms land that his family have worked for 5 generations, who is having to do the same. I would love to be able to buy his milk directly and would be happy to pay more - does anyone know if this is possible? I don't mind paying more for a quality, local product where I know that animals are treated well.

There may be a local farm/dairy in your area that sells direct to the public. I know here in the north-east we have Acorn dairy, they produce organic milk from their own cows and deliver direct to the public. I live too far away for their doorstep delivery but quite a few farm shops stock their milk & cream.
http://www.acorndairy.co.uk/acorndairy.php

Unfortunately I think some producers are contracted to the major supermarkets and aren't allowed to sell elsewhere, which can be devastating if the supermarket then turns round and says they're going to pay less.

Supermarkets are killing this country with their stranglehold but really it's our own fault, we wanted cheap food and they deliver. I reckon most people aren't really that bothered about the raw deal producers are getting as long as they can get their food cheaply at the local tesco.

FelinePrincess

phizzimum wrote: »

I was also appalled to see the dairy farmer who was having to sell his milk at a loss. I've been getting milk from a milkman (milk&more) for about a month now - for the convenience. Do you know if Dairy Crest pay a fair price for their milk, or are they as bad as the supermarkets?

I've had a look on there website and can't find anything to suggest they do unfortunately, and as they appear to be such a major buyer of milk I strongly suspect they will be paying the lowest possible price Maybe you could find a local milkman instead?

It's a shame it isn't easier to find a local milkman. I currently buy the calon wen fairtrade milk, which I am happy with but I would like to support a local milkman as well as the environmental benefit of re-using the glass bottles. I have looked for contact info for the local milkman but can't find any - I was tempted to approach the milkman I sometimes see delivering at 4.30am when I finish work but was too embarrassed of looking like a crazy person asking for milk at that time of night!

It would be good if there was a website (or maybe there already is) which would have contact details for local milkmen all across the uk.

anguk

I found this:
http://www.findmeamilkman.net/

I would just nab the milkman you see or maybe ask one of the neighbours who gets milk delivered for contact info.

FelinePrincess

anguk wrote: »

I wondered if the discount was so small because they didn't have many members? The US store had 1000s of members so was able to give a higher discount for less hours worked.

I expect your right, he did say he was struggling to get the same sort of low prices as the big supermarkets pay due to the low quantities. I suppose it's a bit of a catch 22.

anguk wrote: »

Supermarkets are killing this country with their stranglehold but really it's our own fault, we wanted cheap food and they deliver. I reckon most people aren't really that bothered about the raw deal producers are getting as long as they can get their food cheaply at the local tesco.

I agree. I know it's not so easy for alot of people to be able to afford to buy local and fairtrade all the time but I really wish some people would change their attitudes instead of always just wanting to cheapest - yes cost is an issue but also quality and the local economy are very important and by buying local where possible I believe you get a better quality and you know where your food is coming from and sometimes it is cheaper, even if it is slightly less convenient.

FelinePrincess

anguk wrote: »

I found this:
http://www.findmeamilkman.net/

I would just nab the milkman you see or maybe ask one of the neighbours who gets milk delivered for contact info.

That's just what I was looking for! I used to consider myself quite good at googleing but clearly I'm not! I will get in touch with one of the local milkmen from that site :beer:

irishwexford

we have our milk delivered since january and it saves money as I do not have to dash to supermarket where I would always spend more than I intended. We had a lady from the dairy knock on our door in December asking if we would support the milkman by having our milk delivered by them and do feel we are helping keep him in a job. If we had corner shops in our area I would use them as well for some of my shopping. I do miss the old fashioned greengrocer although we do grow all our veggies on allotment but still buy fruit. We do have a god local butcher who now does bread as well but that is it.

phizzimum

FelinePrincess wrote: »

I've had a look on there website and can't find anything to suggest they do unfortunately, and as they appear to be such a major buyer of milk I strongly suspect they will be paying the lowest possible price Maybe you could find a local milkman instead?

.

yes the website is quite vague on the subject! I did think of emailing or writing to them but would probably receive the same vague answer

anguk wrote: »

I found this:
http://www.findmeamilkman.net/
.

thanks for posting this - but when I put in my postcode it just takes me back to Dairy Crest who I am already using