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In today's world, where food miles and sustainability are becoming increasingly important to our purchasing decisions, knowing where our food comes from has never been more crucial. When you choose Dale Farm products, you're not just buying high-quality dairy goods; you're supporting local farmers and communities across Northern Ireland.
At Dale Farm, the journey of our milk from farm to fridge is a testament to the dedication of 1,300 local farmers - our Dale Farmers. However, they are far more than just suppliers; they are the owners of the company! They share the hard work and are deeply invested in the quality of their produce, tirelessly looking after their cows that give us great tasting milk to go into all of the Dale Farm products you know and love.
The magic of dairy cows lies in their ability to transform grass into milk within just a few hours. In fact, the average dairy cow produces 25 litres of fresh milk a day! Our cows are milked twice a day, once in the morning and then in the evening. This fresh milk is then collected by our Dale Farm tankers and taken straight to our dairies in Ballymena and Cookstown.
Our delicious Dale Farm products are made from the milk of around 120,000 dairy cows. In fact, 38% of all cows here in Northern Ireland are actually Dale Farm cows! Grazing on lush, green pastures kept sweet and juicy by our famously wet weather, our cows produce milk that’s brimming with natural, superfood goodness. Each year we process over 640 million litres of milk; enough to fill an average bathtub over 2 million times OR 213 Olympic size swimming pools!
The secret to the exceptional taste and quality of Dale Farm milk lies in our commitment to our cows, because happy cows make better milk! At Dale Farm, our cows aren't just numbers – they're individuals, each named by our dedicated farmers and known by their unique markings and personalities. Our Dale Farmers provide the best level of care and attention to every single cow.
At Dale Farm, we want to do the right thing for the planet, which is why we focus on farm initiatives such as hedge-laying, planting and green energy sources. In particular, we are committed to minimising the environmental impact of food with one of the world’s largest dairy solar farms based in County Tyrone. Spanning a whopping 37 acres, the size of 25 football pitches, and equipped with a total of 15,000 solar panels, this a shining example of renewable energy production in the food industry. In the past year alone, it has supplied 6 million kWh of electricity, which would power up to 1,800 homes for a year!
But our commitment to sustainability doesn't stop there. We are constantly reviewing our packaging and production processes to assess our impact on the environment. We recently made the switch from coloured to clear milk caps, making our packaging more recyclable and sustainable. Given that coloured caps aren’t easily recycled, this switch means both bottle and caps can be fully recycled together into food grade packaging. This small but significant change will return nearly 60 million caps to food-grade packaging this year, marking a crucial step in combating plastic waste.
By choosing Dale Farm products, you're not just enjoying delicious dairy goods but supporting local farmers and communities. Every carton of milk or tub of ice cream represents the dedication of our farmers and our commitment to a greener future, so make a difference with your purchase – choose Dale Farm.
For more information on the journey from farm to fridge or our commitment to quality and sustainability, visit our website.
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