Refreshed that milk flows again

No need to say “cheese” to get a Valley dairy farmer to smile these days.

The new Matanuska Creamery, which has matured from its origins as the Southcentral Dairy Venture, is accepting milk from local dairies to make cheese that is already sold to some 300 individual customers as well as several businesses. Thanks to some innovative marketing help from the Alaska Farmers and Stockgrowers Inc., about 6.5 tons of mild cheddar were presold to help farmers feed their herds while waiting for the new dairy to go on line.

The dairy has been taking in milk for about a week, with cheese making in full production. While it will take 60 days for the cheese futures holders to get a bite of their all-Alaska, hormone-free cheddar, Alaska dairy cows are munching contentedly, thanks to the funds raised by the presales.

While happy cows may live in Alaska, it wasn’t so happy for the Valley’s four dairy farmers at the end of 2007, with Mat Maid Dairy’s doors closed and their milk being dumped by the thousands of gallons because there was no place for it to be processed. But they didn’t give up. They didn’t send their cows to slaughter. They survived the fat-free time with the hope of some heavy cream ahead.

Kyle Beus, manager of the Matanuska Creamery, called it “weathering the storm” and applauded the dairy owners, of which he was once one, for their fortitude.

Now it is up to Beus and the group at Matanuska Creamery to keep the milk flowing to an eager Valley market — fresh milk, ice cream and other dairy products.

We applaud the vision of those involved with the early Southcentral Dairy Cooperative and its new face, Matanuska Creamery. And we, like Beus, give kudos to the dairy farmers who were willing to weather the storm to keep their way of life and provide Alaskans with locally raised products.

We are confident Valley folks and consumers around Alaska will buy all-Alaska dairy products. Alaskans can support this venture’s continuance by purchasing cheese futures (available until the end of the month) and snatching the new Matanuska Creamery products off store shelves as they become available.

Not only will we be getting a fresh, nutritious products from our own neighborhood, we will be strengthening all of Alaska agriculture, making it possible to buy more locally grown and raised foods.

For Alaska farmers, that could mean fewer storms to weather and sunnier days ahead.