Maine Organic Dairy Farmers Question Raw Milk Ban

Some organic dairy farmers in Maine are unhappy with a recent decision by the Organic Valley cooperative to ban the sale of unpasteurized, or raw milk. Twenty-two years after it was established to help save small family diaries and promote the consumption of more "natural" dairy products, Organic Valley is now telling its farmers they may no longer sell raw milk.

Speaking from company headquarters in Wisconsin, Chief Executive George Siemon says there are strong opinions on both sides of the raw milk debate and it was a difficult decision. "At the end of the day, the membership was fairly split 50-50 for and against and the board finally made a decision to prohibit having raw milk businesses inside of our members farms."

At issue are the potential health risks associated with raw milk. Raw dairy products may carry disease-causing germs, such as E-coli, listeria and salmonella. Organic Valley's decision is one that could potentially affect dozens of dairy farmers in Maine — perhaps none more so that Doug Hartkopf.

To read the rest of this story please go to: Maine Public Broadcasting Network