MS Dilemma

user55

I'm in the doorstep delivery camp too. It saves needless trips to the shops (in the car!) which always cost more than the 1 product you went for. I've been known to blow £30 when I've nipped out for bread and milk! Not anymore! Plus I like getting up in the morning knowing I have fresh mik available, and of course the glass bottles is a huge boon...we don't have plastics included in our kerbside recycling so getting rid of a load of plastic bottles is another car journey. Bring back glass pop and juice bottles I say!

The benefits for me far outweight the additional cost.

Debt_Free_Chick

kiwichick wrote: »

Why not buy your milk at Tesco but buy their new range of "Local" milks which are locally sourced???

Because the sceptics amongst us (especially me) think this is just a marketing ploy as Tesco have cottoned on to a potential consumer backlash against big supermarkets. :rolleyes: It might well be "local" (what does that mean?) and if they are selling for cheaper than the local milkman/dairy, where are they making their money? Screwing the dairy farm down on price, perhaps? :rolleyes: :mad:

I appreciate I am in a fortunate position, but my milk is delivered by the local dairy - not just the local "milkman". Every penny I spend on milk and other dairy products goes directly to supporting my local farmer and those he employs.

I do have very strong views on this and not everyone will agree with them. I'm not trying to say that anyone is "wrong" to buy Tesco Local milk, but do the research and make sure what you're getting is what you think you are buying and not masked by the usual Tesco PR machine.

Bear in mind that the big supermarkets will spend millions to persuade you that they have a conscience - they don't. They just want your money and they don't give a toss for the local economy, especially local farming economies.

Anyone who has price as a priority over supporting local farmers/producers is completely entitled to that principle - this is a very personal decision, based on personal circumstances/priorities.

But for those who really, really want to support local food producers, buy direct whenever you can/whenever price allows. Don't buy the supermarket hype!

moanymoany

I understand that people want to help local farmers, however my sympathy for farmers is very limited. I don't mean all farmers, but those who pushed infected meat into the food chain at the time of 'mad cow disease'.

The epidemic could have been nipped in the bud if farmers had taken out risky cattle at the beginning. Because the government refused to recompense them they didn't do what they should have done and risky cows were hastily shoved to the abatoire and ended up inside the majority of the population. This was done for a long time as many documentories that were made later showed, so unless you have been a veggie pretty much for the last 25 years, or longer, you may well be incubating CJD as a direct result of this.

Rant over!

kazmeister

I buy milk from the supermarket but as I only ever have semi skimmed I freeze it.

I usually buy 3 or 4 x 4pt cartons a week (for 2+2), and freeze them upright, just loosen the tops to give room for expansion and take them out the when we're getting down the last one. Semi and skimmed will freeze but not full fat. That way we dont spend the extras in the supermarket.

Hapless_2

moanymoany wrote: »

so unless you have been a veggie pretty much for the last 25 years, or longer, you may well be incubating CJD as a direct result of this.

Rant over!

CJD does not only come from BSE infected cattle! A molecule from CJD can also be manipulated and become way of combating alziemers(sp) which with my family history I am far more likely to end up with!
there is a big difference between vCJD which is linked to BSE and sCJD which is idiopathic (i.e. it just happens, no reason, it just does). So CJD itself can be incubated by vegetarians!

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/page.cfm?objectid=12896371&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=CJD%20kills%20vegetarian#story_continue (this case unlikely to be vCJD)

meanmarie

I buy my milk from the supermarket as I have no choice, there are no longer milk deliveries in rural areas in Ireland and I am not sure about urban areas. The last time we had milk deliveries the delivery was haphazard so was something that I was not prepared to stay with as, while we don't use much milk, I don't like to run out, I always have a pint in the freezer for emergencies...I know someone who decants mild into ice-cube bags before freezing, being then able to press out the exact amount she wants for a cup of tea. BTW I only use full milk and have never had a problem freezing it.

Marie

Stompa

Curv wrote: »

and so it feels wrong to knowingly pay 43p per pint for something I could get for 28p per pint.

43p seems very cheap, ours is 50p!

Curv

Thanks to everyone for all your comments... I can't say that I'm any more decided though - I'd not considered the 'green' implications of recycling the glass bottles versus the cost of taking the plastic to a recycling centre (our kerbside recyclers only collect glass and paper/card) so when I add that into the mix, I'm even more undecided.

Since I go to Tesco twice a week anyway and wouldn't need to make impromptu trips (thanks to kazmeister for the freezing advice!) it really is a straightforward split between cost and conscience. And it's not even the actual cost, it's more the MS principle of paying almost 50% more than I need to for something. Our milkman doesn't have a facility to deliver anything extra - no cream, no eggs, no veg boxes...nothing. So there's no real loss in terms of nice extras, it would, again, just be down to the principle of not supporting local business.

Maybe a nice glass of wine this evening will help things become clearer

Thanks again... you guys are fab.

Curv x

boo81

I have the same sort of dilemma as I use an organic box scheme. I sometimes sit and think about why I do it as it costs more money but I think in the long run I enjoy the food more, I get it delievered so save on petrol (I did used to do a round trip of several supermarkets), I dont impulse buy, I save the stress and time of going to the supermarket and my bf cant come with me to tempt me either .

Overall I think im encouraged to make more of my food and most importantly I can more or less guarentee whats in my box so I can meal plan, I found using a supermarket I could meal plan and then get there and find they are out of something and I would have to think on the spot normally resulting in making a quick and more expensive decision!

libra10

The same small dairy, father and son, have delivered milk to us for 36 years. The milk costs 45p a pint, which is much dearer than at the supermarkets.
However, they are very reliable and have never let us down, so while they keep delivering we will stay with them.