Time to Consider what's important to each family

The hardest part was to write the email to the coop members. I did not want the members to just vote with their taste buds; I wanted all members to take the time review the photos and the comparison. If someone voted for Harmony, I expected them to make the trip to that dairy without negativity. Below is the email sent to all members before the ballot was sent out on Friday.

Dear Smyrna Coop member

Thank you for bearing with us as we tried another Dairy's product. By now your family should have tried both milk (perhaps even side by side blind taste test with kids) and have an idea of which milk your family likes best.

Please take the time to carefully read this email ~ your vote/voice matters. Voting information is below

Taste is a very important factor; one that my family takes seriously as well.

However, after fielding many complaints and concerns from returning drivers, during the last two years, who were "shocked" at what they observed at the dairy in the past, there is MUCH more to just what you define as great tasting milk.

I've said it in the past but it bears repeating today throughout the seasons, the milk will change as it should because it is a RAW product. We are not buying a standardized product. Point in case: how many of you would plants a tomato plant in your garden and then expect to harvest perfect tomatoes like you pick up at Publix or Kroger? Obviously if your family will not drink the milk period, you've got a problem. During the past 4 months, our family has not been consuming the same amount of milk as we normally do. Truthfully in November and December, the milk tasted a lot different; I was not going to the fridge for a glass of milk just because it was there. There were many factors at play: CRU has released the cows onto new pastures as well as trying new hays. Over the past 2 milk deliveries the CRU milk is much more similar to what we were use to previously. The milk picked up on 1/31 was very similar to Harmony's milk ~ however there is a difference. My kids go through Harmony milk like it was Kool-Aid ~ I am happy that they love the milk and want to drink it. But they also thought Cows R Us tasted fine as well.

My PRIMARY concern with making a switch away from CRU, is that as our members make the trip to Harmony to pick up the coop's order, there will be complaints and grumbling about how "rustic" it is. Rustic is a polite word used often to really mean dirty, messy, unkempt, unclean. Reality check: Harmony does not have a gravel drive. It will be muddy if it rains around your pick-up date ~ your car will get dirty and muddy as will you. At Harmony you have to make an additional stop for ice, haul the ice into the refrigeration building, and then haul the bags out. You will not be able to pull your vehicle right up to the door to load milk. Peter anticipates always being present at Harmony to assist but if we switch to Harmony each driver will have more work. Also, today Harmony's milk may be exactly what you want ... what do you propose to do if for some reason it changes?

Both Dairy family's are passionate about their product. I feel confident that both Dairies meet the SC Certified Grade A Raw Milk standards. At Cows R Us, everything is generally clean and sanitized ~ Jennifer Tessier is extremely cleanliness conscious ~ I am speaking from personal experience, having made 4 trips in the past eight months. At Harmony, some folks may view the dirt drive, many parts and pieces of farm equipment around the area as "dirty" or "unkempt." Frankly folks, I cannot begin to go there ~ I cannot pass judgment on if having what I personally think might be junk laying around is a sign of uncleanliness. I have not walked and/or worked a day in either of these farmers' lives so I cannot judge. By the way, Peter of Harmony has offered any coop member or family the opportunity to be a Dairy Farmer for the day complete with overnight lodging.

Each family is encouraged to give serious consideration to reviewing below resources in view of your family's personal cleanliness standards. I ask that you cast your ballot after weighing what is presented and perhaps prayerfully.

There is one attachment that is a comparison of each dairy farm. Then there are two slide shows that show the property and some aspects of both dairy; regretfully, the video that I took at Harmony was corrupted so I have not views or pictures of the inside of the buildings (milking parlor, tank room (where our milk will be bottled), processing area, refrigeration).

The standards for how the votes will be tabulated are also outlined below. Ballots will be sent out on Friday by 2 PM and are required back by 3PM on Saturday. If you will be away from your computer between Friday and Saturday, I highly recommend that you email or phone in your votes before Saturday 3PM.

Attached are the following for your family's consideration:

PDF: comparison of Cows R Us and Harmony (attached)

Slide shows:

Cows R Us: http://gs105.photobucket.com/groups/m233/DZK68862QX/?albumview=slideshow
Harmony: removed at request of Dairy owner

Voting: Each coop family, gets one vote.

Each vote's final value will be computed with a formula that will give your family's final total. The formula is based on the following: average numbers of gallons your family consumed during the six month of highest consumption for your family and that amount will be multiplied by the number of trips you made to pick up coop milk in 2008. Example for two families:

Formula computation: highest average consumption x 2008 trips to pick up coop order = total family's vote value

• Family A: 4 gallons (highest average consumption) x 3 trips (in 2008 to pick up coop order) = 12 value
• Family B: 8 gallons x 1 trips = 8 value

If Family A had voted for Dairy X, 12 points will be given to that dairy. If Family B voted for Dairy Y, 8 points will be given to that dairy.

Points for both dairies will be tallied ~ and the dairy with the most points will be our Dairy supplier.

Please understand it's my desire to provide each of family with a product they will love and enjoy. The goal to provide the fairest and most reasonable method to give every family a fair say in where this coop's gets their milk. Regardless of the outcome, I am very aware the coop will lose members when their choice does not win. This cannot be avoided as it is not reasonable to get milk from TWO dairies each week or even to alternate dairies.

This process has been grueling, time-consuming and at time gut-wrenching. This is not a process I desire to repeat in the near future (if ever).

Respectfully yours,