Glass Bottled Milk Makes A Comeback in Manitoba

A new micro-creamery near Steinbach is bringing back a tradition from the past.

Jim Appleby opened up Stoney Brook Creamery a couple of weeks ago, selling organic, whole milk in returnable glass bottles.

"That's something that I personally do taste as a difference," he said. "I like to drink anything I can out of glass. I find I can taste plastic."

Stoney Brook's milk is also non-homogenized, which means the cream will separate and rise to the top, something Appleby says is perfect for a cup of coffee or for making cheese.

He notes that his milk has a rich, distinct taste due to the fact that it is whole milk which is batch pasteurized at a low temperature.

The new micro-creamery is situated on the family's organic dairy - one of only a couple in Manitoba.

Appleby, who is highly sensitive to chemicals, explains why it was important to keep the milk organic.

"We're trying to keep out as many pesticides out of our diet, as many toxins of really any kind. So that means farming the way farming has normally been done over the centuries. It doesn't mean we don't get to play with some of the latest technologies, it does mean we get to make some really good quality food."

He notes one of the big challenges of running an organic dairy farm is controlling the weeds, which can affect seeding time.

"It's just all about taking care of the cattle and the feed as purely as we can so that the milk at the end of the day is as clean as possible for people who suffer with health issues that are to do with pesticides or cleaners that are used in food manufacturing."

Stoney Brook Creamery Organic Milk is available at Nature's Farm in Steinbach and online. Appleby said he hopes to have organic yogurt and other products available in the future.

The company was one of seven Manitoba food processing businesses to receive grant money through Growing Forward 2 earlier this year.