Has anyone bought MILK lately???? I think Peter said he paid $4.50 a gallon yesterday-- it went up something like $1 this week. We go through 5-6 gallons a week!
My mom says your behind there. We have been paying 4.25 a gallon. So if it went up a dollar here we are up to 5.25 a gallon. OUCH!
At our local grocery store Dean's milk is about $4.50, but Wal-Mart is considerably less expensive. The only good thing about this is the fact that the dairy farmers (my dad and brother!) are actually seeing an increase in what they are being paid for the milk, when typically the price increase we see at the store doesn't impact them. Will it help to feel good about helping the farmers, who are much more underpaid then we are?
Our local store has specials 2 for $5...we buy a couple gallons then!!! I did hear if you live further from dairy farms/processing the milk is more!!! JustMe...you're right about the farmer's getting what they are due.
You can also buy milk & freeze it. I used to do that when dh was in the army & we could go on post. All I would do was open it, and pour about 1/4 of a cup out (sometimes I didn't even do that). When you want it, set it on the counter or in the fridge to defrost.
Wow California actually has something less expensive...we get 2 gallons for about $4.50. Way to go California...hahaha!
It was 4.59 at Wal Mart the other day. I was shocked. Walgreen's has it on sale periodically for 2.89.
Farmers work 24/7 so it doesn't surprise me that we are finally seeing a price increase. I think we'll see higher prices yet if we continue to use corn products for fuel. It means farmers are competing with other users for animal feed and so those prices will increase. My brother and nephew run a dairy farm together - both college grads with ag degrees so you can understand my respect for the profession. Still, it hurts when you're putting the gallons into the cart.
Here's a link to a publication on milk pricing in the US: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aib761/ There's a section on the history of milk price supports.
The short version at the moment is that corn is more expensive, because it's in demand for ethanol and because the fuel to grow it and to move it from field to cow is more expensive; and also the fuel to move the milk from cow to consumer is more expensive. In addition, for a variety of reasons, the demand for milk worldwide is up. So market forces are having their way: higher demand reliably translates into higher price, just as it did with Beanie Babies a few years ago.
