What's Up with the Price of Milk?

[KevinB]

Last week, I was buying litres of Nestle's Tru-Taste milk for $0.99 each at No Frills. Today, I go to Loblaw's, and the same litre of milk was $3.07! Now, I now Loblaw's is more expensive than a No Frill's store, but 300% more?! If that had happened to the price of gasoline, we'd all be screaming for the an inquiry into oil companies. How can a litre of milk, grown in Ontario, cost 4 times as much as a litre of gasoline, when just a few months ago, that litre of gasoline was almost twice the cost per litre of milk if one bought the four-litre bags?

[LemonLauren]

milk is cheapest at shoppers

[Fat Swine]

Agreed.

[Snarf]

Responding to more than one post here.

Good Ontario sheep and goat are from many places, in cluding Ewenity, Monforte, and Fifth Element. All very credible, though not necessarily Feta.

As for milk prices being generally homogeneous, that is definitely because of the cartel known as the Ontario Dairy Farmers. Price controls, and anti-competitive attempts to limit raw-milk producers and vendors who might offer better pricing.

[Tatai]

That would be Fifth Town Artisan Cheese, not Fifth Element. And Ewenity, Monforte and Fifth Town are making some really wonderful goat and/or sheep milk cheeses.

torontofoodgirl, the feta that's sold at the Healthy Butcher and Whole Foods is Ewenity Dairy's. And I agree with you: it is really good.

[Tatai]

Actually, I was in the Healthy Butcher this morning and noticed they carry both Ewenity and Monforte feta, both sold in plastic containers in the dairy case.

[jayt90]

Ontario milk, cream, and butter from cows is price controlled by the Milk marketing board. You can be sure those crafty board members know about worldwide shortages, and are jacking up our prices, blaming fuel and inflation costs.

It is worth noting that Ontario cheese makers, especially feta, are using more goat's milk now, as there is no marketing board quota to hold them back.

[pinstripeprincess]

did you check your best by dates?

saw the same milk with expiry dates of jan 4th...... promptly turned it into as much dulce de leche as i could.

[cecilia]

Same case here. My local No Frills was trying to get rid of all the milk that didn't get sold during the holidays. When I went on Dec 30, all the milk had Jan 4 / 5 expiration dates.

[pearlD]

Hey 'pinstripeprincess'....how do you turn milk into dulce de leche?...
I've only done it with 'Eagle Brand" sweetened, condensed in the can..I'm intrigued that you can use regular milk...what's the process?

[The Chowhound Team]

Just a quick request that this branch of the conversation be continued on our Home Cooking board ( http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/31 ) rather than here. Thanks!

[Kasumeat]

World dairy prices have risen about 100% in the past year or so. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...
Canada hadn't been feeling the effects of rising food prices much until very recently, but the prices you're starting to see are more reflective of the true cost of food.

[Caralien]

The price here for gas here in NJ did go up 300% over the past year (to nearly $4), then down 300% immediately following the election (now at $1.35).

[budeeez]

Marketing ploy? Just to get foot traffic in. Milk is one of those staples that almost everyone buys.