The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board at the 6th Annual Boston Local Food Festival.
By: Joshua Berman
Project Coordinator, Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts
How often do you think about your local dairy farmer? Well if you are like me, probably not enough. The truth is, Massachusetts dairy farmers are not only an integral part of our agricultural system, but also our local economy. The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board (MDPB) is a huge part of promoting all of the dairy options available in Massachusetts. MDPB operates on the principle that a healthy dairy industry is just as important to consumers as it is to milk producers, and that the availability of Massachusetts dairy products contribute to the good health, well-being, and economic growth of the state’s population.
And the economic benefit of Massachusetts dairy farming is clear at a whopping $187 million dollars per year, all of which helps to bolster and fortify our local economy and food system. But this money doesn’t come easy – farming is hard work, and dairy farming is no different.
The Boston Local Food Festival on September 18 on the Rose F Kennedy Greenway, is a free annual event presented by the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts, and works to promote the work of local food producers and dairy is no small part of our growing local food economy. Massachusetts dairy farmers work 365 days a year, taking care of an average herd of 96 dairy cows and supporting an average farm size of roughly 200 acres. While this may seem like a lot of land for a dairy farm, don’t forget that dairy farmers need space to grow feed for their herd and that many also grow a variety of vegetables on the side to sell at their local farmstand. By caring for and maintaining such vast quantities of land, our local dairy farmers are preserving the picturesque landscape of Massachusetts.
Our Family Farms at the 6th Annual Boston Local Food Festival
Again, while 200 acres may seem like a big ol’ farm, the truth is that a big farm can be thousands of acres. Some small Massachusetts family farms have joined together to form cooperatives – like Our Family Farms, one of the Massachusetts dairy farms that you will find at the Boston Local Food Festival, of the Pioneer Valley – bringing small farmers some of the benefits of a ‘big’ farm while allowing them to maintain their independence and their principles as family farmers. These business-savvy dairy farmers now compete with larger farms yet still uphold their standards of care for the dairy cows and the land – at Our Family Farms, every cow is known by name!
More than just caring for their own cows, our dairy farmers care for our local environment too. Barstow’s Longview Farm in Hadley employs an anaerobic digester, turning organic waste into power and helping Cabot Creamery Cooperative, another Boston Local Food Festival vendor, to completely offset the energy consumption necessary for producing Cabot’s butter. Cabot’s cooperative sources their products from New England and New York. This initiative, which includes a blueprint outlining the process to make it more accessible to small and medium sized dairy farms, helped win Cabot Creamery the U.S. Outstanding Dairy Manufacturing and Processing Sustainability award. Our dairy farmers are clearly contributing a lot to our region, and we haven’t even talked about the actual dairy yet.
Massachusetts dairy farmers produce 28 Million gallons of milk every year! This includes dairy not only for drinking, but also to be transformed into cheeses, yogurts, creams, and all sorts of other treats. All of this wonderful product adds up not only to an abundance of delicious local food, but also to a cornerstone of many Massachusetts residents’ nutritious diets.
Dairy foods contain a complex diversity of vitamins and nutrients which together can support bone health, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, lower blood pressure, and improve cardiovascular health. And if you’re lactose intolerant, no need to miss out! Not only are there a plethora of lactose free drinking-dairy options, but aged hard cheeses contain significantly lower levels of lactose – no need to skip on the mature cheddar!
So let’s give these hardworking farmers their due: they are stewards of the land; they are champions of our local economy; they are animal caretakers and animal midwives; they are accountants, business managers, and business owners; they are operational and logistical masters; and they are your neighbors.
Next time you’re purchasing milk, head to a local dairy farm stand, or check the labels to see where your dairy is actually coming from. MDPB also provides a handy guide to your local dairy options here as well as a resource to help you separate your dairy facts from myth.
We take care of our neighbors, especially when they take such good care of us.
Visit the Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board, Our Family Farms & Cabot Creamery booths at the 7th Annual Boston Local Food Festival on September 18 on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston to learn more about and taste Massachusetts Dairy products for yourself!
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