We drank a glass bottle of coke yesterday after we spotted it for sale at a local deli. A little bit more expensive, but we love it for both nostalgia and taste. Then we started thinking about how cool it would have been to have been around when there were glass bottles, and how much more eco-friendly the concept is. If you could have a milkman today, would you?
There are no plastic jugs and bottles are reused; you get farm fresh milk, plus you never have to worry about not having milk for your morning coffee. Why did this stop happening?
There are gas reasons, too. Instead of having each family in a neighborhood make a special trip to the store to pick up milk, isn't it better for one person to do it? Granted, we no longer necessarily have the housewife figure who's home all day to receive the delivery, and, the truck would have to be refrigerated. But what if a farm offered delivery on Saturday mornings — would you participate?
The very least, why doesn't a soda/milk company offer glass bottles that you could return to a store for them to reuse? This still happens in some countries.
What do you think?
photo: gonzohst/flickr
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As someone who brings returnable milk bottles back to the coop already, I would LOVE to have a regular milk delivery! Milk is one of those things you have to purchase fresh and frequently, so it would be awesome. I remember my grandma getting milk delivered to her home in South Dakota when I was a kid. They still had the tin box for the milk on their front step. The milkman came very early in the morning, and was paid weekly.
This was only 25 years ago.
I'm lucky enough to live where there IS a milk delivery! Calder farms in Michigan is bringing this tradition back.
http://www.calderdairy.com/home_delivery.htm
Oh, and Hiller's (also in michigan) stocks Calder milk in the glass jars with a deposit. Just return on your next shopping trip.
I've seen this in at least one Meijer's in Illinois as well (Arlington Heights I believe) when I was visiting last year. So they are out there!
Munroe Dairy has milk delivery here in RI, with the tin box and everything. I haven't used them (yet), but I see the boxes all over Providence. The website says they pack things in ice if you're not around for pickup. http://www.cowtruck.com
Also, I'm not sure if this is nationwide, but the local Whole Foods has a brand of milk that comes in glass bottles. You pay a deposit and return the bottles to the store to get it back. I've kept the bottles though, since they're awesome for iced tea.
The Seattle area has Smith Brothers Farms: http://www.smithbrothersfarms.com/
We have milk delivery in the D.C. metro area too. $3.25 for a half gallon, includes delivery. They will deliver a lot more than just milk too.
http://www.southmountaincreamery.com
"The very least, why doesn't a soda/milk company offer glass bottles that you could return to a store for them to reuse? This still happens in some countries."
I've found those containers in regular grocery stores in Texas, New Jersey, and California.
I wouldn't participate, but that is because I don't drink milk and wish that others would stop as well. However, if one is going to drink milk, I think it would be better for everyone involved to have farm fresh milk that is hopefully from cows that are living the somewhat happy dairy cow life that I saw growing up in a rural area.
I have milk delivery from a local dairy and I think it tastes much better from glass bottles. But it is only weekly and very expensive. I wish it were more than a boutique service like the old days, a pint every other day or so instead. We had that in London in 1981; I wonder if the milkman still comes in London residential neighborhoods or if they have gone "modern" too.
The Chicago-area has Oberweis Dairy and they deliver milk and other diary products (including ice cream) as well as some juices. I don't use their delivery service because I just don't go through enough milk or dairy products (plus the prospect of having an ice cream pie delivered to my door with the click of a mouse is a dangerous thing), but I do buy their milk at the grocery in returnable glass bottles.
Boston has CrescentRidge.com! They're awesome!!!
I second Crescent Ridge!
I wish we had one here, but for beer.
I want almond milk delivery. But I guess I could make it myself.
I grew up with delivered milk in southern california. It was not in glass jugs, but plastic jugs. They would deliver it in the early morning, so when you got up in the morning it would be on your porch. I remember in my teens I tried staying up so I could see the milkman. In the 18 years I lived in that house, I never ever saw the milkman. I do not go through enough milk in a week at this point in my life to get the milk delivered, but look forward to the day when I can. It was Alta Dena back then, but I think it is now knudsons ( my parents still get their milk delivered)
When I was growing up SuperAmerica stores used to have a type of milk in returnable hard plastic jugs (this was in St. Paul, MN). I'm not sure if they do this anymore.
In Europe many soda and other beverage bottles are made of thick, hard plastic and are reused instead of recycled. Whether glass or plastic, reusable bottles seems like a good way to go - from milk, juice, soda and beer, it would cut down on waste from both recycling and producing new bottles.
We have a local dairy here in the Kansas City Metro area that puts their milk in returnable glass bottles. Shatto Dairy in Osborn, MO. They have a lovely farm with a little store and give tours and have family days. We have been to their farm twice which and my children have insisted on their milk since. I once hear Alice Waters speak and she said that she liked farmer's markets because she could picture the face of the grower. I feel the same about this milk.