Frequently Asked Questions
Raw Milk FAQs
1. What is raw milk?
Raw milk is fresh, unprocessed milk straight from the animal — never pasteurized, never homogenized. It carries the full nutrient profile nature intended: living enzymes, beneficial bacteria, healthy fats, and bioavailable vitamins and minerals. It's milk the way it was consumed for thousands of years, before industrial processing became the standard.
2. What is the difference between raw milk and pasteurized milk?
Pasteurization heats milk to kill bacteria, but the same heat denatures proteins, reduces vitamins, and destroys naturally occurring enzymes and probiotics. Raw milk skips the heat entirely, keeping its biological structure intact. Homogenization — a second processing step — breaks up fat globules; raw milk leaves them whole, which is why the cream rises to the top naturally.
3. What is A2/A2 milk and why does it matter?
A2/A2 refers to the beta-casein protein profile in the milk. Most modern dairy cows produce A1 or mixed A1/A2 due to a century of crossbreeding. Heritage breeds like Jersey and Guernsey produce only A2/A2 — the original protein profile our ancestors drank. Many people who struggle with conventional milk find A2/A2 noticeably easier on the system.
4. Is raw milk legal to buy in Florida?
Yes, with one important rule. Florida law requires all raw dairy sold within the state to be labeled and sold for pet consumption only. This is why every product description on our site includes that designation. The milk itself is sourced, handled, and delivered to the same standards as any premium dairy product.
5. What is the difference between grass-fed milk and conventional milk?
Grass-fed milk comes from cows that graze on pasture instead of being fed grain, corn, or soy in confinement. The difference shows up in the milk itself: higher omega-3s, more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and richer fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. It's the natural nutrient profile cows produce when they live the way they were meant to.
Our cows are also milked only once a day, not the two or three times standard in commercial dairies. Less frequent milking means the cows stay closer to their natural rhythm, experience less stress, and produce milk with a richer fat content and more concentrated nutrient density. It's a slower pace that prioritizes the quality of the milk over the quantity of output.
6. How long does raw milk last and how should I store it?
Raw milk stays fresh for 8–10 days from our arrival date every Tuesday and Thursday; milk should be kept at the back of the refrigerator at a temperature below 35°F (4°C). Because it's unhomogenized, the cream layer rises naturally — shake gently. We always recommend bringing a cooler with ice to keep your dairy at the right temperature.
7. Where does SWRFM source its raw milk from?
Our raw milk comes from a trusted partner farm where dairy is still produced the way it was meant to be — slow, clean, and uncompromised. The cows are Jersey and Guernsey heritage breeds producing 100% A2/A2 protein, pasture-raised year-round, grass-fed, and milked only once a day. No grain, no silage shortcuts, no hormones, no antibiotics — ever. Every batch is tested at state-certified labs before it reaches our shelves.
8. Why does the cream rise to the top of raw milk?
Because raw milk isn't homogenized. Homogenization is the high-pressure process that breaks fat globules apart so cream stays evenly mixed in conventional milk. Raw milk skips that step entirely, so the cream rises naturally — exactly the way milk has always behaved straight from the cow. Shake gently to mix, or scoop it for butter, coffee, or recipes.
9. What is the history of raw milk and why is it making a comeback?
Raw milk has been part of the human diet for over 10,000 years. Pasteurization is barely 160 years old — developed to address sanitation problems in industrial-era dairies, not because milk itself was the problem.Today, families returning to clean, traditionally-produced dairy are part of a broader movement back toward whole, unprocessed food the way generations before us knew it.
10. Where can I buy raw milk in South Florida?
Southwest Ranches Farmers Market carries the best and highest quality of raw cow milk, raw cream, raw chocolate milk, raw kefir, and more — sourced from our partner farm producing 100% A2/A2, grass-fed dairy. Pickup is available in-store at our Southwest Ranches location, or through our weekly Friday and Saturday route stops across South Florida. Order deadline is Tuesday at 12:00 PM for same-week delivery.
General Market FAQ’s
B1. How does SWRFM ensure the safety of its raw dairy products?
Our dairy partners follow strict testing and inspection protocols. We test on a monthly basis at state-certified labs for E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter, alongside SCC, TCC, and standard plate counts. The state inspects the farms quarterly, full dairy inspections happen twice yearly, and the herd undergoes annual veterinary blood testing for tuberculosis and brucellosis.
B2. What is regenerative farming and why does it matter at SWRFM?
Regenerative farming works in harmony with the land instead of depleting it — using rotational grazing, cover cropping, and healthy soil practices to rebuild the natural ecosystem. The result is more nutrient-dense food and animals raised the way they were meant to live. It's the foundation behind every product we carry, from raw dairy to pasture-raised chicken meat and eggs.
B3. How does SWRFM's Route Pickup work across South Florida?
Our weekly delivery route runs from West Palm Beach down through Kendall and west to Naples, with 17 pickup locations across South Florida. Order online by Tuesday at 3:00 PM, select your pickup location and date, and meet our refrigerated van at the scheduled time on Friday or Saturday. No long drive to the store required.
B4. What is the SWR Signature Box?
The SWR Signature Box is our elevated take on a CSA — a curated box of seasonal, 100% natural produce, pasture-raised proteins, and artisan provisions sourced directly from our regenerative partner farms. Every box rotates with the season and harvest, the way community-supported agriculture was always meant to work.
Disclaimer: PER THE STATE OF FLORIDA LAW, RAW DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION: THEREFORE, OUR PRODUCTS ARE FOR PET FOOD CONSUMPTION ONLY.
