I have more TX questions...

[cjeanette]

That seems cheap! I assume the closer you are to the cows ghe cheaper the milk is?

We pay like $4 a gallon though..m.

[panicked]

Are you thinking of morning glories?

[skib]

Yeah, don't worry about the milk. That's just the LCOL town you're living in. It's $2-something where I am, but I'm closer to a major city than you.

The flowers are morning glories -- they bloom only in the morning.

[skib]

Jul 6, 2015 22:02:05 GMT -5 swizz said:

Jul 6, 2015 21:56:15 GMT -5 skib said:

Yeah, don't worry about the milk. That's just the LCOL town you're living in. It's $2-something where I am, but I'm closer to a major city than you.

The flowers are morning glories -- they bloom only in the morning.

I didn't realize they only bloom in the morning! Thought I was losing my mind the other day, lol.

Yeah, there are some weird things about Texas. More great things than weird things, though.

Let us know if you have more questions! I hope you're enjoying Texas so far!

[panicked]

Jul 6, 2015 23:52:21 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

I've had neither of these experiences. I'm missing out on real TX.

Cmon over my way. We have cattle guards on the roads into the neighborhood to keep the cattle out.

[karinothing]

I paid nearly $7 for milk the other day

[nextbigthing]

We pay about $3 for milk in DFW or $5 for organic , I agree with TamiTaylor it's the LCOL

The flowers are morning glories, I love those!

Welcome to TX, I went to college in Virginia and in laws live in DC so I know what you're used to in Nova, I hope rural TX is treating you well!

[cajunmom]

Jul 6, 2015 22:02:05 GMT -5 swizz said:

Jul 6, 2015 21:56:15 GMT -5 skib said:

Yeah, don't worry about the milk. That's just the LCOL town you're living in. It's $2-something where I am, but I'm closer to a major city than you.

The flowers are morning glories -- they bloom only in the morning.

I didn't realize they only bloom in the morning! Thought I was losing my mind the other day, lol.

Are they actually tiny though? Morning glories aren't tiny, all of ours have blooms the size of my palm.
Do they look like this?

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2015 21:50:55 GMT -5 swizz said:

Why is a gallon of milk $1.50? Am I buying like radioactive milk for my kid? LoL

I have this plant/bush thing in our front yard (that I assumed was weeds...) that has these tiny blue flowers. EXCEPT, they'll be there in the morning, TOTALLY GONE by the end of the day, and then BACK AGAIN a day later. WTF?

Fluid milk distribution is not only based on your proximity to cows (I mean there are very few dairy farms in TX) but your distance to milk processing plants as well. The areas with strong dairy industries are divided into regions which determines wheremilk ends up. 

You are in TX which is decently close to California's Happy Cows. Also some of Arizona's up and coming dairy. Most of that milk ends up for distribution in plants in both California and Idaho which is then sent to Areas in TX, Colorado, Wyoming. Some of California's milk ends up back in MN and WI as well (it's a business decision by some of the larger processers. MN ships more powdered milk for product and cheese grade milk in return)

Most of the milk in the Midwest (SD, MN, WI) is used for cheese and whey protein or the casein products for other food. This is primarily shipped everywhere in return for fluid milk to this area. Which explains why milk is more expensive in places like OK. KS. It's there just in product form and the fluid milk is trucked in from farther away. 

The milk in IN/MI is a bit more 50/50 on whether it's fluid milk or cheese/product. So if you're in one of those states it's hit or miss on the price of store milk. A lot of this milk also ends up in the southern Midwest as well. Dairy gets more "rare" the closer you get to the East Coast so the price of milk costs more. VT, NY and FL are the main distributors but it's not enough fluid milk for the population and it's trucked in from what supply the Midwest does have. 

It's complicated. Some of it is USDA related. Some of it is the Processors. It's fine. It's not inheritently wrong. More that whey and dairy products are in high demand moreso than fluid milk right now and it's the cheapest way to go about it. And this all happens in a matter of hours on the daily btw, so your milk is never "bad" either (I've been asked that too). 

And now you know why Minnesotans and Wisconsinites see ads for California's Happy Cows and Californians see ads for Minnesota's. It's also why store milk here is $3.50 in one of the largest dairy states in the nation and a $1.50 in TX. 

To add to it, each state also has different rules on taxing "neccessity" foods. Some states have no taxes. Some tax it all. So you may be seeing that difference as well.

[anaps28]

Shit my gallon of organic 2% was $6.95

[simpsongal]

Jul 7, 2015 5:49:32 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I paid nearly $7 for milk the other day

Ditto - $6.80 for a gallon of organic.

[leonard131]

Jul 7, 2015 7:53:33 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Jul 7, 2015 5:49:32 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I paid nearly $7 for milk the other day

Ditto - $6.80 for a gallon of organic.

I guess Annapolis is LCOL - I paid $4.99 my organic milk :-)

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 8:04:20 GMT -5 swizz said:

Jul 7, 2015 7:51:23 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

You sure know your dairy

But seriously, thanks! I never knew this and it's very interesting. I'm always surprised too because there are like 3-5 brands of milk where back east there was always a store/house brand and then the slightly more expensive fancier brand. There a much wider selection from $1.50-$3.00.

A lot of the branding has to do with the processors too. East Coast has fewer processors shipping to the east Coast so fewer brands. In states where there's more smaller independent processors with the large ones there's more options in brands. Same with states who have a lot of processors shipping there. And some of it is just an advertising decision. 1 processor can own 10 brands and it's just all about the labeling different markets of people. It's all the same milk. Just in a prettier container or location on the shelf.

[thebreakfastclub]

I can't imagine using up a gallon of milk. It would take us months.

[simpsongal]

Jul 7, 2015 8:11:10 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

I can't imagine using up a gallon of milk. It would take us months.

We're big milk drinkers.  We've cut back but we buy 2-3 gallons of skim organic per week and a gallon of whole milk organic (that lasts DH about 2 weeks though, but he's in DC).

I'll take this space to also rant about Giant.  UGH - they suck.  I get grocery delivery once in a while to give myself a break.  Last delivery I got mealy peaches, bruised avocadoes, and spoiled chicken. 

[mainelyfoolish]

Maine has state price controls on milk. I stock up when I'm shopping across the border in NH. $2.60/gallon at BJ's in NH vs. $3.50+ in ME...it adds up when your family drinks 3 to 4 gallons a week.

[cajunmom]

Jul 7, 2015 8:16:53 GMT -5 swizz said:

Hard to see but tiny flowers and skinny leaves. The flowers are definitely coming and going though, lol.

The pic is pretty small but maybe you can find it on here www.mywildflowers.com/searchflowers.asp?mode=identify&pf=&fshape=fform%3D%27regular%27+AND+rays%3E%3D4+AND+rays%3C%3D6&height=&bloomsize=&color=blue&month=&form=&leaf=entire&cluster=single&itype=flower


Those aren't morning glories, though.

[tootsie]

I'm pretty sure those are Mexican Petunias. I'm in TX as well, those grow pretty wild.

[MNH2013]

I love when @justdairy gets technical! Random but I was just talking with a coworker about day trading cattle. I miss ag.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 8:41:41 GMT -5 MNH2013 said:

I love when @justdairy gets technical! Random but I was just talking with a coworker about day trading cattle. I miss ag.

LOL. It's so hard for me. I know it. I live it. But to explain it to people I feel I like I sound like a complete idiot. 

And it's all so complicated but not really it takes me awhile to spit it out. 

[sunshineandpinot]

Jul 7, 2015 8:07:51 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

Jul 7, 2015 8:04:20 GMT -5 swizz said:

You sure know your dairy

But seriously, thanks! I never knew this and it's very interesting. I'm always surprised too because there are like 3-5 brands of milk where back east there was always a store/house brand and then the slightly more expensive fancier brand. There a much wider selection from $1.50-$3.00.

A lot of the branding has to do with the processors too. East Coast has fewer processors shipping to the east Coast so fewer brands. In states where there's more smaller independent processors with the large ones there's more options in brands. Same with states who have a lot of processors shipping there. And some of it is just an advertising decision. 1 processor can own 10 brands and it's just all about the labeling different markets of people. It's all the same milk. Just in a prettier container or location on the shelf.

So this is very interesting to me because we have a wide variety of our store brand milk, HEB (I'm also in TX).  And I cannot figure out the difference.  It's so interesting to me, lol, that I wrote it down once and just went back to look at my notes. fwiw, these were the prices in 2013. 

Hill Country Fair brand- $2.98 gl (this is the low HEB house brand. I generally do not buy much of this brand though I couldn't really tell you why) 
HEB brand- $3.58 gl (this is what I do buy) 
Central Market Organic- $4.98 gl (I believe that's a sale price)
Mootopia Half Gallon- $3.38 (I think this is a low sugar milk. I think it tastes great. I just don't buy it bc it's $$) 

So basically are the Hill Country Fair brand and HEB brand milk the same? If so, I'll totally start buying the HCF brand bc we go through a lot of milk. 
We also have Oak Farms and probably 1-2 more brand. Our milk/dairy selection is huge!

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 10:56:40 GMT -5 sunshineandpinot said:

Jul 7, 2015 8:07:51 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

A lot of the branding has to do with the processors too. East Coast has fewer processors shipping to the east Coast so fewer brands. In states where there's more smaller independent processors with the large ones there's more options in brands. Same with states who have a lot of processors shipping there. And some of it is just an advertising decision. 1 processor can own 10 brands and it's just all about the labeling different markets of people. It's all the same milk. Just in a prettier container or location on the shelf.

So this is very interesting to me because we have a wide variety of our store brand milk, HEB (I'm also in TX).  And I cannot figure out the difference.  It's so interesting to me, lol, that I wrote it down once and just went back to look at my notes. fwiw, these were the prices in 2013. 

Hill Country Fair brand- $2.98 gl (this is the low HEB house brand. I generally do not buy much of this brand though I couldn't really tell you why) 
HEB brand- $3.58 gl (this is what I do buy) 
Central Market Organic- $4.98 gl (I believe that's a sale price)
Mootopia Half Gallon- $3.38 (I think this is a low sugar milk. I think it tastes great. I just don't buy it bc it's $$) 

So basically are the Hill Country Fair brand and HEB brand milk the same? If so, I'll totally start buying the HCF brand bc we go through a lot of milk. 
We also have Oak Farms and probably 1-2 more brand. Our milk/dairy selection is huge!

I have no idea if they are all the same, but chances are it came from 1 or 2 main processors in your area anyways. My knowledge of branding stops at anything out of the Midwest. 

It's milk. It's all the same. It's all safe. It all meets the same guidelines.

[MNH2013]

HEB Milk is all out of the plant in San Antonio. We buy the HEB brand only because the HCF usually has dirty milk jugs and gets sticky on the way home lol no idea why.

www.heb.com/static-page/article-template/Our-History

[brady2012]

Jul 7, 2015 8:13:48 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Jul 7, 2015 8:11:10 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

I can't imagine using up a gallon of milk. It would take us months.

I'll take this space to also rant about Giant.  UGH - they suck.  I get grocery delivery once in a while to give myself a break.  Last delivery I got mealy peaches, bruised avocadoes, and spoiled chicken. 

I am not sure where you are (I assume somewhere in MD) but I have had better luck with Harris Teeter pick up and Safeway delivery than I have had with Giant.

[holly116]

]I have no idea if they are all the same, but chances are it came from 1 or 2 main processors in your area anyways. My knowledge of branding stops at anything out of the Midwest. 

It's milk. It's all the same. It's all safe. It all meets the same guidelines.[/quote]

I don't buy organic, but I do try and buy local. The stuff I was buying is usually $4ish a gallon at target and one day as I was picking it up, the guy stocking it was out there and told me not to waste my money. The target market pantry was coming from the same place and is around $2.50. So there it is.

[MNH2013]

Jul 7, 2015 12:28:55 GMT -5 swizz said:

Jul 7, 2015 11:53:08 GMT -5 MNH2013 said:

HEB Milk is all out of the plant in San Antonio. We buy the HEB brand only because the HCF usually has dirty milk jugs and gets sticky on the way home lol no idea why.

www.heb.com/static-page/article-template/Our-History

The HCF milk is what's $1.50/gallon. The HeB brand is like $2.15 or so.

I did get a gallon at Brookshire's that was clearanced (still had a week on the expiration!) for $.70.

Felt like I was in a different decade, lol.

Yea we never noticed a difference in taste and I'm not totally sure how HEB and HCF are different if all coming from the same place and are store brand. Work is slow today so I have been googling HEB milk hah. Those prices sound similar to what we pay here. We are getting 2 gallons a week between M and H.

Who knew milk would be a fun topic!

[LoveTrains]

Jul 7, 2015 8:16:53 GMT -5 swizz said:

Hard to see but tiny flowers and skinny leaves. The flowers are definitely coming and going though, lol.

I have this same plant in the area between my sidewalk and the street. I thought it was a weed. I pull it when I see it. 

[urbancowgirl]

Jul 7, 2015 8:16:53 GMT -5 swizz said:

Hard to see but tiny flowers and skinny leaves. The flowers are definitely coming and going though, lol.

Looks like it could be asiatic dayflower. It pops up in our lawn every now and again. 

[cajunmom]

Jul 7, 2015 12:15:28 GMT -5 holly116 said:

I don't buy organic, but I do try and buy local. The stuff I was buying is usually $4ish a gallon at target and one day as I was picking it up, the guy stocking it was out there and told me not to waste my money. The target market pantry was coming from the same place and is around $2.50. So there it is. [/quote]


Wait, he told you that the local milk you were buying was the same as the market pantry milk?

[holly116]

Jul 7, 2015 13:31:42 GMT -5 cajunmom said:

Jul 7, 2015 12:15:28 GMT -5 holly116 said:

I don't buy organic, but I do try and buy local. The stuff I was buying is usually $4ish a gallon at target and one day as I was picking it up, the guy stocking it was out there and told me not to waste my money. The target market pantry was coming from the same place and is around $2.50. So there it is.

Wait, he told you that the local milk you were buying was the same as the market pantry milk?[/quote]

Yeah, that the local milk company was providing the target brand milk for the local target stores.