Mallorie's Dairy - Family owned & operated since 1954

DO YOU WANT TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR MILK?

Recently the USDA issued a proposed rule that puts Mallorie's Dairy and two other Pacific Northwest dairies at risk. Dairy farms that raise and care for their own cows and then bottle and distribute their own milk are called producer-handlers. They are direct farm to market operations. These are family farms that have been in operation for several generations. The new rule will drastically change regulations that have existed for over 70 years.

Large national and regional dairy cooperatives and milk processors are the driving force behind the proposal. We believe their purpose is to drive family owned dairies like Mallorie's out of business, or to severely restrict their ability to operate efficiently. The large milk cooperatives in the Pacific Northwest already control 96% of the milk supply, while 9 family-owned producer-handlers produce only 4%. Since the 1960s, the number of producer-handlers in the United States has dropped from over 450 to less than 60 today. Family-owned producer-handlers are an endangered species.

These changes will impact consumers too. Mallorie's and other family-owned producer-handler prices are competitive. If the large dairy interests prevail in eliminating competition and free enterprise, consumers may be faced with fewer choices and higher prices.

THIS RULE CAN BE CHANGED! Make your comments heard! If there is enough public comment in opposition to this rule, it can be modified and family-owned bottlers can be saved.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! You can make a difference by making your voice heard. For more information and to find out how you can help, go to our partner website: www.keepmilkpriceslow.org.

Fill out a simple form and have your comments mailed directly to the USDA

Or send your email comments to:

amsdairycomments@usda.gov

Or send your written comments to:

Hearing Clerk
STOP 9200-Room 1083
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-9200

Reference should be made to the title of action, "Hearing on Pacific Northwest and Arizona-Las Vegas Producer-Handlers", and [Docket number A0-368-A32, AO-271-A37; DA-03-048].

A letter from the Mallorie Family:

We are proud to live in a land of opportunity-a country where anyone can improve with hard work, determination, free enterprise, and the capability to make it all work. In this country it is possible to live the American Dream.

In a world with few heroes to look up to, ours will always be our Dad, Dr. Robert J. Mallorie, a veterinarian who died in 1996. He started Mallorie's Dairy in 1954 from nothing, and with his efforts it grew to be the largest producer-handler in the state of Oregon. A producer-handler means we milk our own cows and bottle our own milk. Having total control of our animals from the time of birth, we are able to closely monitor and care for their health. We know that a healthy cow produces the highest quality milk.

At Mallorie's Dairy, we employ 86 hard working men and women, 29 whom have worked with us for more than 10 years. After 9/11, our employees contributed funds to raise an American flag in front of our dairy, a representation of the pride they have for their country. Our employees are like family and we do our best to compensate them for their efforts. We could never run such a large operation without their dedication and hard work.

Our family is very proud of what our father accomplished and have worked together to see that the dairy continues. We are very proud to be able to provide a nutritious, wholesome product to so many families in the Willamette Valley at an affordable price.

Everyone has the right to vote and voice their opinion without worry of prosecution and we are privileged to have these rights. In the United States, voices are heard. After reading about the proposed regulation to producer-handlers from the website www.keepmilkpriceslow.org, we would appreciate your voice being heard through a form on that website.

Sincerely,

The Mallorie Family