A dairy farm on Vancouver Island is offering islanders a new option when it comes to buying milk.
People on the island can head to Morningstar Farm in Parksville to purchase milk on tap for two dollars per litre.
The farm purchased the milk dispenser from Switzerland and had it installed in August.
"Milk dispensers in Europe are pretty common but in Canada this is the first one,” said co-owner Raymond Gourlay. “You come with your own jug or jar, or you can buy one of our reusable glass bottles here in the store and you just fill it up on tap."
Raw milk sales are not legal in Canada and milk has to be pasteurized before it’s sold.
Gourlay believes that’s why other farms haven’t followed suit.
"We're in a unique position as a dairy producer and processor of being able to pasteurize milk on site…and thus sell it to the customer directly on site,” said Gourlay.
With 55 grass-fed cows onsite, Morningstar Farm is one of about half a dozen farms in the province that process its own dairy products, producing roughly 1,700 litres a day.
"It’s non-homogenized, it’s cream top, it’s full fat and grass fed and really fresh,” added Gourlay.
The B.C. man says their new business strategy gives people the option of buying local while reducing packaging and waste.
With files from the Canadian Press
