The Dairy Blog

Happy Holidays to All!  While this season always brings joy, lurking just under the surface is a nightmare for ...   more »

While traveling in Europe, (actually Ireland) I noticed how much advertising was devoted to probiotic products. It was on television, billboards and buses across the entire country. Although we may be a little behind in the U.S., I was proud of the fact that Mayfield had been one of the first to take advantage of probiotics in milk through NuTrish Milk. I have been drinking this "value-added" product for years and can tell a difference in my body when I am out of town and don't have access to it. And, even though it is a lowfat 1% product, my kids even love it.

Mary Williams

In order to serve our customers with fresh milk and ice cream, we have several distribution centers.  We have Christmas parties at each facility this time of the year.  Some parties are small and some are large, especially at our plants in Athens, TN, Braselton, GA and Birmingham, AL.  Everyone plans their own party.  In most places, a lunch is provided and in other locations an evening meal is preferred. 

The party I attended Saturday was in Rainesville, AL.  The meal was served to the route sales folks as they finished their routes.  The food was prepared by the wife of one of our route sales guys.  Talk about good food!  It was like eating with “Mom.” 

Our management team tries to visit as many of these parties as we can.  In some cases, it is our yearly visit with some of these employees.  I really enjoy seeing them and wish I could make more of the parties, but it is impossible to make them all.  So far, I have been to five.  I will visit two parties today and three more before Christmas. 

We have two parties that really make Christmas for me.  The folks at our Morristown and Tri-Cities branches invite their families to their parties.  They also buy presents for all the children.  Each year Santa comes.  I think it is Santa.  If not, he is a helper.  He seems to know each child.  One at a time the children visit Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas and he gives them a small gift.  I get to be his helper and it is really fun.  The children’s ages range, as you would think, from so young they really don’t know who Santa is to old enough to make sure they don’t let their parents get a picture of them next to Santa.  Some children are in awe of Santa and can’t wait to sit on his knee.  A few want to talk to Santa, but from a distance and in the safety of their Mother’s arms. 

There is nothing like good food, families visiting and children excited about Christmas.

These two parties are early enough to get me in the Christmas spirit.  The Tri-Cities party was this past Sunday.  We had our Christmas Cantata at church that morning and then the party that afternoon was a great combination to get me into the Christmas spirit. 

I hope everyone finds a way to get into the Christmas spirit. 

Merry Christmas!

            Scottie

Mayfield Mom Pamela here! I wanted to tell you about the Festival of Trees so you can go check out the best looking and only yellow tree there! You have until Sunday, so hurry! When we were decorating the tree, we did not have on a Mayfield uniform (we had warm-ups on as we were crawling all over the place) and everyone around certainly new it was a Mayfield Tree.  Olivia did a great job picking out items at the Braselton Visitor Center Gift Shop.  The rulers looked like ribbon going thru the tree (fantastic) and the little key rings looked adorable.  The tree was loaded with goodies (the photo does not do it justice).  We had so much fun and so many people came over and wanted to tell us that they love Mayfield Milk.  One lady had moved 12 years ago from NY and said it was the only milk she would use.  Isn't it great we hear that over and over?  I just love being a MAYFIELD MOM!

And here it is...

Question #1 - Is the date stamped on the milk jug an expiration date or a “sell-by” date, and can I use the milk past the date?

The date on our milk jug is the “sell-by” date.  This date lets our route salesperson know when they should remove the milk from the store shelf; however, the consumer should be able to use the milk for about seven to ten days after the date as long as the product is kept under proper refrigeration.  The best temperature for milk storage is 33° to 38° Fahrenheit.  When the temperature of milk increases above 38° the shelf life decreases, so as far as dairy products go, your motto should be KEEP IT COLD!  If you don’t keep a thermometer in your fridge, then I encourage you to get one so you know you are maintaining the best temperature for your dairy products.

Hope I've answered some of your own questions! Let me know if you have any others.

Happy Holidays,

Jan