MOO-VE over for farm fresh milk!

FROM grass to glass is the concept behind a dairy farm business which has started to package and distribute its milk into local shops.

The Rich Pasture Herd based at Thorpe St Peter near Skegness has started to package and sell its milk as a new Lincolnshire-based product.

Helen and David Barnham, of Rich Pastures, decided to make the move as a way of keeping their family business alive.

Helen told the Target: "As dairy farming is fast becoming no longer financially viable in today's market, The Rich Pasture Herd is trying to buck the trend and produce a local product for the local community.

"We have diversified into processing and packing the milk from the herd. We have been running for six months now and slowly building business."

As imports of milk from Holland, Belgium and Northern Ireland hit a record high at about 1.5 million litres, British dairy farmers are leaving the industry at a rate of two a day, blaming low prices and high costs.

In the past 10 years the number of UK dairy farms has dropped by half, including many in Lincolnshire.

Helen said: "At the moment about 10 per cent of our milk is processed and sold by us with the rest going to Dairy Farmers of Britain. We hope to increase the amount we process ourselves over time and are very pleased with the take-up so far."

Rich Pasture milk is delivered to shops in conjunction with PJP food services of Firsby, and to restaurants on the coastal strip and in areas stretching from Louth to Boston.

The herd of pedigree Holsteins has been cared for by three generations of the Barnham family and has now come full circle, with customers once again able to buy direct from the farm.

Rich Pastures is a member of Select Lincolnshire, which promotes and supplies Lincolnshire products to Taste of Lincolnshire outlets and across the world.

Helen says Rich Pastures milk is special because it goes from grass to glass in the shortest possible time, is 100 per cent traceable, their whole milk is un-homogenised so the cream line is visible, and the herd is fully assured under the RSPCA Freedom Foods Scheme. The farm name Rich Pastures also gives strong brand identity.

Helen and David are always willing to give talks and conduct visits on "From Grass to Glass" to schools, WI's and local and community groups.

Call 07939 328899 or email: richpastures@tiscali.co.uk or visit www.richpastures.co.uk