March 2009

Buy Fresh, Buy Local MILK!!!   Hawaii's Fresh milk is the only "Island Fresh" milk on Oahu, Kauai and Maui.  Now available in gallon and half-gallon containers at all Foodland Stores.

For the first time in years, Oahu, Kauai and Maui have island-fresh milk on store shelves.  Currently, it can only be found at island Foodland Stores.  Milk from the Big Island's Island Dairy began shipments of Hawaii's Fresh milk in January 2009 and it's important for consumers to support island produced milk because we only have two dairies left in the state.

Hawaii's Fresh milk goes from the farm to the supermarket in just four days and is the freshest milk available.  Mainland milk is pasteurized twice and can be weeks old by the time it reaches your table.

Buying local milk, eggs, meats and produce helps to increase our state's food security and helps us to become more food self-sufficient.  It is estimated that 85% of our foods are imported and it is imperative that we produce more food here in our islands.

For more information on food self-sufficiency, click here.

Dan Meisenzahl, Jeri Kahana and Island Dairy's Bahman Sadeghi talk about Hawaii's Fresh milk.

Island Dairy is located in O`okala on the north side of the Big Island and has been in operation since 1990.  Owner and President, Bahman Sadeghi believes Hawaii's great weathr is key to creating a sustainable dairy farm.  Island Dairy does not use artificial hormones to stimulate milk production like some mainland dairy operations.

Island Dairy recently began to grow their own feed corn to manage escalating feed and transportation costs on the farm.  He also uses the natural fertilizer from the cows to grow the feed, which helps to make the farm more sustainable and green-friendly.

Jeri, Bahman, Dan, Amber-Lynn and Yasmin love Jeri's bread pudding which only works if you use island-fresh milk!  See recipe below.

Island Fresh Bread Pudding

10 Island Fresh Eggs

1 lb. bread

1 quart Island Fresh Milk

1 C granulated sugar

1/2 C raisins

1 Tbs. cinnamon

Cut bread into cubes and shake cinnamon on cubes. Place cubed bread into 9"x13" greased glass pan.

Mix eggs, sugar and milk in bowl.

Sprinkle raisins over cubed bread and pour egg/sugar/milk mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees until knife stuck in center comes out clean (about 1 hour).

Serve warm with vanilla sauce.

Vanilla Sauce for Bread Pudding

1/2 C granulated sugar

1/2 C brown sugar

1/2 C butter (1 block)

1/2 C whipping (heavy) cream

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine sugars, cream, and butter in small saucepan. Cook over medium

heat until boiling stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla.

BUY FRESH, BUY LOCAL!!!!!