Some things are worth going the extra mile for. Or, in my case, a solid thirty-five-minute drive, one way. I’m talking about milk. And no, not the watery, sad-looking stuff you grab from the fluorescent-lit coolers at the big box stores. I’m talking about the real, unadulterated, creamy goodness that is Jarrel Bro’s Raw Milk.
Let’s be clear, I’ve put away my fair share of this stuff – probably close to two gallons in the last couple of weeks alone. It’s rich, it’s fresh, and it tastes like something that actually came from a living creature, not a factory floor. There’s a character to it, a subtle sweetness that the industrial processes boil and blast out of existence. This is the kind of quality you can taste, the kind that makes you wonder what you’ve been drinking all these years.
Now, is it cheap? Hell no. And is it as convenient as a corner store? Not by a long shot. I wish it were a few bucks less, and I wish I could find it in more places than I can count on one hand. But I say that knowing full well I’ll be making that 35-minute trek again as soon as my last bottle runs dry. I’ll happily trade the convenience for the quality.
This is where it gets tricky. A topic like raw milk can curdle into a political debate faster than you can say “pasteurization.” But I’m not here to argue policy or get into the weeds of regulations. The only soapbox I’m willing to stand on is the one that supports the little guy.
What the Jarrel brothers are doing is more than just bottling milk. They’re running a small, local business with a commitment to a high-quality product. They’re the kind of operation that used to be the backbone of this country, the kind that’s becoming harder and harder to find. Driving out to their spot, handing over my cash for their milk – that’s a direct investment in a family, in a local economy, and in a standard of quality that’s becoming a rarity.
So, yeah, it’s a bit of a drive. And it costs a little more. But some things are worth the effort. Supporting a small business that takes pride in its work? That’s one of them. And the taste of that cold, fresh milk when you get back home? That’s just a damn good bonus.