Monday through Sundae
June is dairy month in North Carolina

Originally published in:
North Carolina Farm Bureau
June 2003
Vol.74 No.6
Page: 10

By CHRIS STREET

Once upon a time, a dairy farmer from the cold northern state of Maine grew weary of milking cows in subzero weather and moved his family to the sunny, green pastures near Chapel Hill. Bob Nutter and his herd of Holstein cows liked the new climate - the cows showed their appreciation for the new green clover by continually giving large quantities of high quality milk.

The story tells of how Maple View dairy started. For over 30 years, Nutter sold milk to Pine State dairy in Raleigh, helped by his growing children Roger and Muffin. The farm prospered, but the time came when Pine State closed. Nutter, an Orange County Farm Bureau board member, and his crew had to determine the dairy's next move.

Maple View would bottle and sell its own milk - turning back the pages of time and putting it in glass bottles - the way it was when milkmen still made house calls. Milk in retro glass bottles with the Maple View logo was a success, but marketing it within the competitive world of mega-dairy products was no cakewalk. Muffin Browsing handles the weighty chore of marketing Maple View's products. She says, " Our success is partly due to the unique market around Chapel Hill." The community, including Research Triangle Park, has several universities and a higher family income than the state average. She adds, "The community here appreciates pure food and farm fresh products."

Customers also seem to appreciate the positive environmental attitudes of the family dairy. Bob Nutter says, "We care about preserving the land." Maple View received it first conservation easement on the farm in 1995. And today, 400 acres are preserved from future development, ensuring that the land will remain in farming.

Farm Fresh Products

Plant Manager Roger Nutter says fresh quality is Maple View's calling card. He notes, "The glass bottle helps ensure milk quality. When milk leaves in our trucks, it's properly chilled and should last at least sixteen days." All Maple View milk comes in recyclable glass bottles. Maple View's customers return 90 percent of the bottles for reuse, according to Roger Nutter. He says, "This is an environmentally conscious community."

The success of Maple View milk led to a line of homemade ice cream and the opening of a country store that overlooks the farm and its herd of contented cows. Muffin recalls, "We were going to offer four or five flavors of ice cream when we opened. I think we're up to 49 flavors now." She says work with local farmers when fruits, such as strawberries, are in season and feature special ice creams. The Orange County Farm Bureau family enjoys having the public visit the country store and drink in the farm's pastoral view. Children can play on the grassy acres surrounding the store, while families take advantage of picnic tables.

Maple View in distinctive glass bottles is available at three Fresh Market stores, various market/convince store, and eight Harris Teeter grocery stores in the Triangle area. "Harris Teeter will work with local farmers," Bob Nutter explains. "They gave us a spot in one store and said, 'if it sells you can keep the spot.' We've grown to eight stores now."

Reflecting on the continued challenge of dairy farming, Nutter concludes, "You've got to add value to your farm products today - to survive. Our success is partly due to the type of market we're in and the fact our customers want to buy local products.' He adds, "Everyone wants to know where their food comes from, and the 'd rather buy North Carolina products when they can."