Bohemia, NY – On July 18, 2012, Old Amsterdam Cheese became aware of a story from The Telegraph detailing issues faced by dairy farmers in Britain.
Many milk-producing dairy farms in Britain are suffering due to the persistent cost-cutting policies of big brand superstores. Britain is known for the picturesque dairy farms that lace the countryside, however many people worry the sight will soon be a thing of the past. The economy of milk production is slowly dwindling, and while the lower prices in supermarkets are indeed enjoyable, it may leave dairy farmers out of business.
According to an article by The Telegraph, there are some supermarkets that have signed contracts with dairy farmers which will help the farmers recover the costs of milk production. However, “those contracts cover only a small minority of British dairy farms, and even they do not leave farmers with any real profit.” In addition, there are several supermarkets that pay even less for the milk than it costs to actually produce. The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers argues that every supermarket could pay farmers for the cost of dairy production and continue to sell milk for the same price; they merely need to accept a marginally lower profit. The article states, “Sixteen years ago, according to the association, retailers made an average of 2.6p profit per litre. Now, they make nearly six times that amount.”
Dairy products are widely consumed across the globe. Huge brands and companies like Old Amsterdam base their businesses on the production of cheese. The value of dairy farmers is unquestionable, and the British public is beginning to worry about the well-being of their attractive dairy farms. Within the past sixteen years, 20,000 dairy farms have become absolute and to date there are only 14,500 left in all of Britain. Many dairy farmers are suffering, hopeful this hasty reduction will take a turn for the better.
In 1985, the brand Old Amsterdam was officially introduced in The Netherlands in Bodega Continental in Amsterdam. To this day, master cheese makers carefully oversee every procedure, constantly monitoring taste and quality, all of which determines when each batch of perfectly ripened cheese is released. Old Amsterdam has won numerous international medals, including the ‘Best in Class’ at the World Championship Cheese Award 2010 and the prestigious 2009 Superior Taste Award from International Taste & Quality Institute.
Source: Old Amsterdam