Well, what started as a little old Facebook post about the discontinuation of the Devondale long life cream has turned into a much bigger issue. What was meant to be a light hearted nudge to try and get Devondale making their long life cream again has become so much more. I am not really sure where to start… so here goes…
Last week I posted this on the Miss Chardy Facebook Page:
Now I am not sure what equates to something going “viral” but I reckon this post has given it a pretty good nudge…
So many comments… and all of them along these lines: “oh we love this product, always have some in the pantry, use it everyday, so handy in the caravan, we live 200km from town and always stock up….” get the gist. I had no idea so many people were so passionate about this cream.
So, to catch you up if you are not sure what the hell I am talking about… Devondale have stopped making their long life cream and it seems Australians are VERY PASSIONATE about this cream. Wow, who’d have thought that cream could stir up such a response. Oh and did I mention that this particular cream is the only one available on the retail shelves, there isn’t another brand to choose from (unless you use a wholesaler). I am not sure what we will use to whip for cakes and scones.
I know we are all really sad that this product will no longer be available to us – first world problems and all. But what I have come to realise is that there is a much bigger issue. Dairy farms. This is the major issue. You see, since the government de-regulated the dairy industry, about 15 years ago, dairy farmers have not been getting paid properly for their product. Now I don’t know if you understand dairy farms or not but they are bloody hard workers. They are up at sparrows (probably around 4am) to milk the girls and there is a fair chance they don’t even know what a holiday is. So imagine working your backside off, never being able to leave the farm and not getting paid properly. In most cases they can’t even cover their costs.
I feel like I am totally talking out my arse here, because – lets face it – I am no dairy farming expert.. aren’t I a wine enthusiast? We are also beef cattle farmers, not dairy farmers. But I tell you what my friends… we use milk, cheese, butter and cream on a daily basis, so I guess you could say I am quite passionate about this issue. Not only were we major supporters of the Devondale long life cream but we also buy bulk supplies of their 2L UHT full cream milk. You know – maybe 10 boxes at a time. So to say we love our dairy would be an understatement.
Because I feel like I don’t really know what I am talking about, I thought I would share some comments that readers have left on my Facebook posts – these comments are from people who actually know what they are talking about – dairy farmers themselves! So here you go…. please read all of these comments – if you are like me and didn’t really understand the magnitude of this massive problem then this will give you a really good insight into what is happening to the dairy industry. It is scary, to say the least! If you rely on milk, cheese, butter and cream on a daily basis, then this is your problem as well, we need to stand united and fight for this industry!
I think we all need to sit down for a minute and have a good listen to Nanna Lou – she breaks it down into terms even I can understand – Thanks Nanna Lou!
Since the “internet erupted” (not my words) Devondale have now released the following statement on their Facebook page:
This isn’t about their long life cream anymore. It is about the dairy industry in general. So please read one of the comments left on the Devondale post…
We need to support our dairy farmers. If you stop using Devondale you are not fixing the wider issue, you will hurt the farmers even more. This was never about bagging Devondale, in fact it was the opposite. What that Facebook post, that I wrote the other day, showed us is just how much we love Devondale and all of their products.
So please, if you can share this post, and scream from the roof tops about this issue, that would be wonderful. You see Australia doesn’t know what it is like to go hungry, there hasn’t been a food shortage since world war 2. But if things keep going the way they have been we may well all be drinking powdered milk that has been imported from China. If overseas companies keep taking over these factories, they will export our superior product and import an inferior product. Australia has such tight food safety regulations and that is why countries like China want our product. We will then get their product which is not regulated and has god only knows what in it. I am so worried that Aussies won’t understand the magnitude of this problem until their only option for milk is imported milk powder. You will all be sorry then, won’t you? When this happens it will be too late.
Do you understand? I mean, for god sakes, I barely understand but what I do understand is this my friends… If the dairy farmers keep being forced to close their farms – because they have gone broke – they WON’T re-open. These farms will be turned into residential land and the farm will be lost forever.
When we lose the farms we also lose the supply of milk. bam – gone. It has already happened. So many farmers forced to walk away.
We have also gone back to a whole foods diet – back to basics. So we are now consuming a lot more full fat milk which means there isn’t as much cream left over to make… well… cream! Make sense? Or am I way off?
So basically – WE NEED OUR DAIRY FARMERS!!! We also need to pay them properly. So when you are in the supermarket and see the cheap $2 milk and reach for it, think again. Think about the farmers. I know the other milk may seem expensive but this is what we should all be paying (probably more, truth be known). The big chain supermarkets can sell the milk at this price, because they are bending over the farmer, and just claim back the loss by putting the price up on other products in the store … Yes?
Thank a farmer for your next meal my friends and please support this cause. Please share your comments in the space below. We would love to hear from you.
Ok, I am off to look on Cattlesales to see if I can find myself a milking cow – just in case.
Are we too late?
Do you know someone who can take this cause further? God knows I have no idea where to start.
Do you consume Dairy? Then this is your problem too!
HELP!!!
If you would like to read more about this issue please check out the Facebook post HERE and check out the comments.
I love my country but as a nation I see things I really don’t like. Why do people buy something like milk at a dollar a litre?? You don’t need too be a genious to realise there’s nothing good about that as a whole. Australians seem not to think big picture, ony what’s good for me now! I see this so often. But this argument is about the diary farmers and our country’s milk supply. On principle I’ve never bought cheap milk and never will. So sad our country is being lost, we need to stand behind those that make the country run. All farmers!!! We need to have a thoughts and a voice in something as small as knowing where our produce is coming from.
Thank you Joyce for paying a fair price for your dairy purchases, the only people to make money out of $1 litre milk is the supermarkets
I am hearing you Joyce, I never buy the cheap milk either.
Thanks Dan for highlighting this issue. The lack of regard some Australians have for farmers is a national disgrace. This is evident in the thoughtless purchase of cheap milk as well as imported fruit and vegetables. I appreciate that there are some families who may be struggling financially for whom dollar a litre milk is a blessing. But there are many people who are not in dire financial straights who could easily afford to make an ethical purchase, but don’t. Ignorance and complacency are enemies of the Australian producer. Thanks for helping to spread the word Dan.
Thanks Jo, I agree with you!!!
I ask these questions because I am ignorant, not to be inflammatory.
Is farming financially sustainable anywhere in the world? I work in tech and I talk to people in agtech who all predict a shortage of food in the future as well as a shortage of workers, particularly in the US where farmers are often staffed by ‘illegal’ immigrants who are now sending the next generation of workers to college. I know automation will be a reality in some aspects of farmers and indeed already is in milking, crop analytics and hacking of tractors.
I live in Germany where produce is dirt cheap -milk is only available in 1litre cartons for €0.50c. The flow on effect is that cafes and restaurants must in general keep their prices low or the public complains leading to a proliferation a under the table workers because they can’t afford to pay the legal minimum wage. So it becomes a catch 22.
Love to learn more from others.
I feel passionate about the dairy/milk situation in Australia and it truly saddens me to see that the government and regulatory bodies are not responding to what is frankly a crisis and will not get better without major national change. I’m not a farmer or involved in the industry at all just a consumer who has for years been concerned. My family has been buying 4Real Milk (from a corner store and now our local butcher) since 2013. This is a farmer who branched out and took a huge risk to start processing his own milk. It costs more but I spend that money with pride and we budget accordingly (about $12-15 a week – we consume a fair bit of milk 🙂 I love knowing that it’s making a difference, if only in a very small way. I’m also happy that it appears he and his milk are very well supported by the community and he has grown over the years. It breaks my heart that dairy farmers are being forced to leave their life’s work.
Kerri I’m in the area where 4Real milk is available as well. The story of the family behind it is truly inspirational. Their yoghurt and double brie are to-die for! It feels good to support a local, courageous family and defy large greedy corporations whose actions have destroyed dairy farmers.
I agree Jo, they are an inspiration and yes that Brie is AH-MAZ-ING 🙂
Oh Kerri, what a fabulous story, that is fantastic and good on you for supporting local. Do you know where the 4Real dairy products are produced or where the farm is. I am off to google it. That is so great and good on that farmer. Thanks for sharing.
Their farm is in the Scenic Rim area, Tamrookum to be exact, which is out behind the Gold Coast. It’s a couple hours from where I live. I’m sure you’ve found the website by now but it’s https://www.4realmilk.com.au/home if you haven’t had a chance yet or for anyone else who may be interested. When they started they only stocked within a couple hour radius and now they have stockists right up to far north Qld and out to Longreach which is totally awesome!
I grew up in a dairy farming community in NQ, and did some time milking cows as well as showing. I am now a beef farmer but i am still passionate about our awwsome dairy industry, and it breaks my heart to see how they are going down the gurgler. We Australians are so lucky to have such quality product. Being a farmer any kind of farmer is a really hard gig, so it would be nice if all Australian including our gov would support us buy local & pay us fair prices. I don’t know how to make people appreciate where their milk or meat or mangoes or bread comes from…. but you can’t get it back easily once it is gone. RIP devondale UHT cream, what a disaster 😕
HI Gen, oh you are spot on about “can’t get it back easily once it’s gone” …. it is really scary. People just don’t understand, and I must say that I am as guilty as charged when it comes to this dairy crisis. It really is a crisis and people just don’t get it. The only way they will actually understand is when they are drinking imported powdered milk.
I think perhaps people need to take a step back & think about something other than their stomach. Surely there are mothers reading this page? How would you like to live a life of contantly being artificially impregnated, to then have your baby taken away from you to either be shot (boys) or put into the same lifecycle as yourself (girls) so you can remain lactating & supporting the gluttonous wantings of another race? How do so many people manage to ignore the well-being of the animals that produce their food? 😢😢😢
As beef cattle farmers we are all about the “well being” of our animals. Dairy farmers are just the same. Animal welfare is our top priority. I know we can’t change your mind about what you eat or drink and your views but you need to understand that we care for our animals.
I understand why people want to buy the cheap milk. As someone living only just above minimum wage, I often have to make the choice between Australian grown/made/packed and international supplies. It sucks. I buy the cheap dairy only when there is no other option on the shelf, or if I can go without, I will. (Great Ocean Road milk is excellent and their chocolate milk is scrummy!) But it honestly scares me that we are selling out the last of our great food suppliers and digging up our food bowls for finite resources. There’ll be nothing left of this country. 🙁
Anyhoo, have shared this post on my socials.
At least you understand the situation Ren and do try to only buy the cheap milk when you really have to. I totally understand that. At least you try. Thanks for sharing.
I always by Norco dairy products as they are my local producer & I live seeing their cows happily grazing. It is fresh, makes great cappuccino & usually lasts beyond its stated “best before” date. Sad not to have UHT cream option anymore. But its possible to freeze rich 40% butterfat cream. Check Wikihow for steps.
Please correct my typos – buy, love.