FAQs

Q – How do you process your milk?
A – We use an HTST pasteurizer. That means that the milk is brought to a high temp (170F) for a short time then chilled. We do not Ultra-High Temp Pasteurize (UHT). Then, either the milk is sent to a cooling tank to be bottled (for whole milk) or it goes thru a separator to skim the cream from the milk and cooled again. Our 1% and 2% milks are a precise mixture of whole milk and skimmed milk. We do not homogenize and we do not add dry milk powder! Our cows are also not treated with rBGH.

Q - What does homogenization mean?
A – Milk is often homogenized, a treatment which prevents a cream layer from separating out of the milk. The milk is pumped at high pressures through a very small orifice, breaking up the fat globules. We DO NOT homogenize our milk so make sure to shake it up!! Not homogenizing also means that our Cream will whip up like a dream… watch it carefully or you may end up with some straight-from-the-farm butter!

Q - Why does your milk cost more than other organic milk?
A – Our family’s first priority is to deliver milk that is the healthiest and the highest quality. Breeding and feeding our herd for high production volumes does not meet our highest priority. The first foundation of our healthy milk starts with the quality of our pastures and this delivers high CLA and high Omega 3. The second foundation of our milk is the unique and constant breeding of cows that efficiently convert the pasture into high CLA, high Omega 3 and high A2 beta casein milk. We believe these unique priorities leave our customers with the highest value grass-fed organic milk!

Q - What do your cows eat?
A – Grass and legumes in the pastures during the summer and stored grass and legumes in the winter! The cow is an amazing forager. Many different forbs also grow in our pastures, especially at the forest edges. Many of these have medicinal qualities and a cow’s instincts will tell her which one she should nibble on. Our cows do not consume any grains. They have a forage diet 12 months a year; fresh pasture 7 months of the year and then stored forages during the late-fall thru early-spring months. Our herd’s milk production has dropped in half, but by not adding any grains to their diet we are maximizing the amount of CLA and Omega 3 that you consume thru their milk and meat! Even the smallest amount of grain can alter the amount of CLA and Omega 3 in the milk drastically. See the website www.eatwild.com for more information CLA, Omega 3 and grass-fed animals!

Q - How many cows do you have in your herd and what breeds?
A – We generally have around 150 milking cows as well as young stock and steers. We used to be a registered Holstein Dairy Farm but because Holsteins aren’t good walkers (some of our pastures are 3/4 mile away from the farm), we decided to spice it up a bit! Now, we have a healthy mixture of breeds that are known for their high butter-fat & protein content milk, for being great walkers and strong grazers. Our cows are now a mix that includes Normandy, Jersey, Milking Short-horn and many other breeds!

Q – Does all of Cedar Summit milk come from Cedar Summit Farm?
A – Because we ran short of our own milk, we now lease the herd of a young farmer that Dave has mentored over the past 10 years. This young farmer runs his operation exactly the same as we do at Cedar Summit Farm and meets our high standards.

Q - What is the difference between glass bottles and cartons?
A – For starters, the bottles can be returned to us and reused about 20 times! Anyone that sells our glass-bottled milk will take your returns and get them back to us for refilling! The glass bottles go thru a heavy cleaning and rinse before we put the next batch of milk in them. The milk is also kept colder in glass. We offer cartons as an alternative choice when buying our milk. The milk in the bottles and cartons are the same product… just different packaging.

Q - Where can I buy your milk?
A – Please see *this page* for an updated listing of stores offering our products. Don’t forget, you can always come down and visit us in New Prague at the Creamery!

Q - Do you have raw milk available?
A – At this time, we have made the decision not to offer raw milk.

Q - Does your milk have added Vitamin A and D?
A – Our Skim, 1% and 2% milks have added Vitamin A and D. The whole milk does not. Vitamins A & D are carried in the fat. As you skim the fat off for skim, 1% and 2%, vitamins are lost. Vitamin D comes from the sun and our cows get lots of sun.

Q - Any tricks to working with the cream at the top of the bottle?
A – Generally once you get the first glass of milk out of the bottle or carton, you should be able to shake the cream in! For the first glass, use a knife or small fork to make a whole in the cream, pour, enjoy and then shake away!

Q - Why does my milk taste a little off before the date on the bottle/carton?
A – This happens a couple times a year when the cows transition from fresh pasture to stored-fermented grasses in fall then back again in spring. This is normal and can sometimes take a bit of getting used to but rest assured that the transition is only temporary and the milk is still healthy! It is still very important that you care for milk as perishable because we don’t homogenize and pasteurize at a lower temperature than most milk. Keep the milk in the coldest part of your refrigerator and bring a cooler with you to the store on warmer days.

Q - What are the percentages of fat content in your Whole Milk, Ice Cream and Heavy Cream?
A – Whole milk averages about 4%; A little more in the winter and a little less in the summer. Ice cream is 14%. Heavy cream is about 40%

Q - What does the date on the package mean?
A – The date on the bottle/carton is 16 days out from pasteurization. As long as the milk is kept cold and in the interior of your refrigerator, it should last you 2-3 days beyond that date!