Dairy - Raw Cow's Milk - Honeysuckle Farm

Availability:

In an effort to serve as many customers as possible, we limit the number of jars available to order. This limit may be adjusted periodically as supply and demand dictate. The current limit is shown above the green button.

Backordering: The "Estimated Backorder" (located above the green button) is an estimate of how many days it will be before an order placed today may be fulfilled. This is only an estimate; it may take longer or it may not take as long. I will do my best to keep this number updated as accurately as possible.

It is possible that milk for your order may be available at the time your order is placed, or it may be approximately several days, even up to a week, before it will be ready.

While we would love to keep milk ordering open continuously, we may close ordering if we get to the point where we feel we are about a week behind. When we catch up, ordering will be reopened.

This all depends on the supply (how much the cows produce) and the demand (the number of orders). Supply is lowest in the winter months, and highest in late spring and summer. Very warm and cold temperatures both affect production.

If milk ordering is closed, we suggest checking back daily. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict.

Due to the high volume of emails we receive inquiring about milk availability, any such emails will refer back to this information.

Ordering:

Milk must be ordered through our website ordering process.

Per Illinois law, all customers who order milk must provide their name, address, and phone number. Orders without this information will not be fulfilled until the information is provided on the account.

We do not offer a herd share or regularly scheduled pickups.

Milk orders that also have other items on the order will be given priority.

When the green button shows "Add to Cart", milk may be ordered. Again, it may take several days to a week for milk orders to be filled.

Pickup:

FARM PICKUP ONLY! Per Illinois law, raw milk must be sold at the farm where it is produced.

ALL NEW CUSTOMERS MUST SCHEDULE A "MEET THE FARMER ORDER PICKUP". Returning customers may schedule a "Self-Service Order Pickup". Use the links in the "Your Order is Packed" email notification to schedule your pickup.

Please review the order pickup information on our FAQ's page. Milk orders must be picked up within 5 days after receiving the first "Your Order is Packed" email notification. We will send a notification everyday for five days. The order will be cancelled if not picked up within the 5 days. Please reply to the "Your Order is Packed" email if an issue arises.

Jars:

All milk will be sold in a Ball-brand half-gallon glass jar with white plastic lid. For each jar of milk ordered, you must either return a clean jar & lid, or purchase the jar & lid for $5. Jars exchanged/returned without a white plastic lid will be charged $1 for a lid.

Please communicate the number of jars you plan to exchange at pickup in the checkout comment box. The $5/jar charge will be applied to all orders without this communication and may delay fulfillment of the order.

Extra jars returned will be credited $4 in the form of online store credit to your account. The credit will be added to your account after jars are returned. Store credits are automatically applied to your next order. Extra jars are defined as clean, empty, half-gallon Ball-brand jars with white plastic lid, that were initially purchased from Honeysuckle Farm, returned in reusable condition, without a corresponding full jar of milk being purchased. (Example: You order 2 jars of milk, but communicate at checkout that you will exchange/return 4 jars in good condition at order pickup. $8 store credit would be applied to your account, after the jars are returned, and applied to your next order.)

You may purchase your own Ball-brand half-gallon jars and white plastic lids to replace the metal lids and bands that come with the jars. We will not accept other styles of jars as exchanges/returns.

Jar policies are subject to change without notice.

General Description:

Looking for raw "pet" milk? Our registered Guernsey cows are A2-A2 tested. They spend 100% of their time on pasture. We have a few cows that are 100% grass-fed, with no grain. We also have a few cows that receive a small amount (less than 5 lbs. per day at milking only) of a dairy ration that contains grain. Grain is only given to maintain proper body condition of the cows.

Honeysuckle Farm operates a ”micro-dairy”, generally milking anywhere from 1-3 cows at any given time. Occasionally, cows may be dried off prior to calving and between lactation cycles, affecting the supply of milk.

As our farm grows, we hope to add additional cows to increase milk availability.

If you are wondering about the benefits and safety of raw milk, we highly suggest reading more at realmilk.com.

WARNING FROM Illinois Dept. Public Health: Raw milk has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, persons with weakened immune systems, and women who are pregnant.

How long does raw milk "last"?

Milks fresh, sweet taste depends on two things: oxygen and temperature.

Milk in unopened jars should easily last 3-4 week or longer. Once the jar is opened and more and more air is introduced, the beneficial bacteria in the milk will consume the milk sugars, it will lose the sweet flavor, and slowly begin to taste and smell more sour each day.

Milk stored at colder temperatures will also stay sweet longer. Obviously, you do not want to unintentionally freeze the milk. Frozen milk is still safe to consume, but the consistency of the cream will change and appear more “clumpy” when thawed.

The general rule of thumb is, once it's been opened, to consume the entire jar within a week.

If it sours beyond your taste preferences, it can still be used as an ingredient in cooking, baking, soups, etc. Raw milk does not go rancid like pasteurized milk, it "clabbers" instead. It is still edible and usable.