When was the last time you visited a farm?
20 years ago, I went to a u-pick pumpkin patch outside of San Diego.

How close have you ever been to a cow?
Very close. When I was little, we had a place out in the country. My neighbors had cows and my friends had cows. They were beef cows.

I’ve never milked a cow, but I’ve petted cows. However, I’ve never toppled a cow (gone cow-tipping).

What dairy products do you most frequently buy?
I’m a cheese-a-holic. I always have three types of cheese at home: Grated Romano, sharp or mild cheddar and generally sliced provolone, though I will occasionally get sliced Swiss. I get these from a local Italian deli.

Why do you consume dairy products?
They enhance all the foods that I eat. I put cheese on my tuna fish sandwich. And I love an egg-salad sandwich with toasted cheese. I always have a big glass of milk with a banana or an apple before I go to work.

How many gallons do you buy in a month?
Two gallons. It’s just me in the house.

What is a good deal for a gallon of milk?
$2.50 to $3. The price of a gallon of milk is more than the price of a gallon of gas in some supermarkets here.

How much is too much to pay for a gallon of milk?
$4

What is your favorite or most frequent time/place to consume dairy products?
Generally from breakfast through lunch. Occasionally for dinner.

What’s your favorite dairy brand?
Smart Final brand (generic brand for chain grocer in California). I get 2-pound cheddar bricks for a little bit less than $5, which is a good deal.

If one-on-one with a dairy farmer, what question would you ask him or her?
What is the very last day it is safe to consume my non-fat gallon of milk? How set in stone is that expiration date? I go by taste and smell, but I generally don’t go three or four days past the printed expiration date.

What word would you use to describe the work of a dairy farmer?
Americana. I think of them getting up at dawn and getting their cows plugged into the machines and milk onto the trucks and to the processing plants.

Positive industry image: I equate dairy products with good health and a lot of protein. It’s rib-sticking, healthy food.

Negative industry image: I didn’t realize how much runoff (flush water) comes from dairy farms. They have to keep them so clean and sterile when milking cows. I was talking to someone from a community in the Central Valley.

According to him, the runoff had really screwed up the water table in his rural town. There are a lot of chemicals used in cleaning the stalls and milking machines, too.

Who do you trust for information about your food?
I’m not a big Internet or computer guy. I’d say a newspaper.  PD

QUIZ QUESTION

How many cows are there in the average California herd?
Ethan: 500
Correct answer: 1,026

Walt Cooley
Editor
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