The Rhode Island Dairy Farm Cooperative announced this month it will start selling its milk under the name Rhody Fresh in stores throughout the state.
The cooperative, made up of five farms scattered throughout the state, is looking to increase the volume of milk its sells overall and thus make it easier to pay for the rising cost of doing business, like more expensive fuel used to haul its milk.
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The campaign is also seen as a way for farmers to stave off pressure from developers to sell their land in a “very tough” economic environment.
“Our farmers are operating on thinner margins every day,” said Jim Hines, executive director of the cooperative. “We’re hopeful Rhode Islanders will buy a local product that in turn will preserve some of the most valuable open space in our state.”
The cooperative already has 20 grocers lined up to sell the milk and hopes to reach out to more locations. Rhody Fresh milk is expected to hit the shelves on July 12.
