Frequently Asked Questions
What hours are you open?
While we are starting up we have shorter hours - check here - if the front gate and barn door is open, then we are open. We would love to hear if these hours do/don't work for you.
Very occasionally we may run out of milk - we will update our social media pages if this happens or feel free to text or call us on 0276327451 if you are making a special trip and want to be sure that there is milk available.
Why would I choose your milk over supermarket milk?
The Milk Barn milk is certified organic from our A2 cows — a premium, nutritious combination that you won’t find in local supermarkets. Let us know if you do! Even though it is a premium product, we want to make organic milk more affordable than supermarket organic options. Our Certified Organic farm fresh milk from A2 cows is just $4 litre.
You can reuse your glass bottles again and again, which means less recycling for you and less waste for the planet. Plus milk always tastes better in glass!
Our super fresh milk comes from happy, healthy, relaxed cows that you can meet and pat when you visit the farm.
We’re a locally owned and operated family farm - three generations have lived and worked on the farm for over 40 years. When you buy our milk, you’re supporting local, we give back to our community — and you’re always welcome to meet the farmers and ask us any questions.
Do I need my own bottle?
As the milk comes out of a chilled dispenser (it isn't pre bottled) you do need to either bring your bottles or buy them (new, empty with lids) from our bottle machine.
You can bring your 1L bottles (like us, you may have original Arran Farm milk bottles - please continue to use these.) We also sell new lids in packs of 4. We have brand new glass bottles for purchase located in a separate vending machine. There are two options to choose from - our fabulous bottles with The Milk Barn design and BioGro Logo, or plain glass bottles.
You can clean and reuse the bottles again and again. Always rinse with cold water first, then wash in hot, soapy water using a bottle brush, then rinse with plain hot water. You may wash the bottles in the dishwasher (rinse with cold water first), lids in the cutlery tray.
How do I pay and what if the machine doesn't work or if I can't work it?
CASH ONLY first week of November while the PayWave is being fixed. Once we have this fixed then
You can pay by cash or PayWave bank card.
Our milk dispensing machine only takes cash (notes and coins) and tokens. If you haven't got cash, no problem, you can use your PayWave card at our bottle machine to dispense tokens - 1 token = 1 litre of milk.
Our machine that has all the extras in it (bottles, bags, lids, etc takes cash and PayWave card).
Please note that the machines prefer small notes ($5, $10, $20 - they have trouble with $50 and $100 notes.)
It is a super easy system but there is always the chance that you need some help. Don’t worry — we are close by. You can either phone us or press the video call button located in the shed which is a direct line to all of the team - one of us will answer and talk you through the problem, or if needed (we’re only a couple of minutes away) we will come and help you right away. A list of our contact numbers is on the wall, but the video call button means you don't have to use your phone.
Can I buy your milk for my cafe/coffee cart?
Yes of course! Get in touch to trial our delicious milk for your coffee. Give your customers the premium option of The Milk Barn A2 Certified Organic local milk.
Why have you pasteurised? Is it safe for children, pregnant women and the elderly?
Our milk is gently heated at a low temperature just long enough to remove harmful bacteria while keeping its natural goodness and flavour. Then immediately chilled. This makes it safe for everyone to enjoy, including young children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
It’s delicious to drink as is, super nutritious for smoothies, extra tasty for milkshakes, exquisite for frothing on coffee, pouring over your morning cereal, using in baking and excellent for cheese and kefir making.
While raw milk has a use by of only 4 days, pasteurisation slows down spoilage, giving The Milk Barn milk a longer fridge life, (at this stage 7 days, while still tasting wonderfully fresh). Our milk is undergoing best-before testing so you’ll know exactly how long it stays safe and delicious. Like all dairy products, we always recommend giving it a sniff test if you have had it open a few days.
For your peace of mind, we go the extra mile with testing.
Every batch of milk is tested immediately after pasteurisation to verify that the pasteurisation process has been successful. This test takes only seconds and must be passed before the milk is released to our vending machine.
In addition to this real-time verification, we routinely send samples to an independent laboratory for full microbiological analysis, providing an extra layer of assurance that our milk meets strict food-safety standards.
This combination of low-temperature pasteurisation, batch-by-batch verification, and independent laboratory testing ensures The Milk Barn milk is both safe and of the highest quality.
How Fresh is The Milk Barn milk?
Did you know that supermarket milk may sit chilled in the farm vat before it is even collected by the tanker for more than 48 hours? It could be a few more days before it hits the shelves after processing. The Milk Barn milk is fresh from our cows, the small batch is immediately gently heated and chilled. Within a few hours of milking, it is in the refrigerated milk dispensing machine for you to purchase. Pasteurised milk typically has a longer date than raw milk so that you can collect your full weeks supply of milk at one time or if you prefer, buy several times a week for the freshest milk without having to buy your own cow! Let us know if you can taste the difference between supermarket milk and The Milk Barn milk!
How should I store it?
- Keep milk chilled below 4 °C at all times. Preferably take the milk bottles home in a chilly bin or bag. We sell handy chilly bags - you can even pop a cold pack in the side pocket.
- Take it straight home after purchase and put it in the fridge.
- Store it in the coldest part of the fridge (preferably not the door).
- Alway keep the lid tightly closed.
- Keep an eye on the best-before date. The best-before date will be displayed at The Milk Barn, either write on a sticker for your bottle or snap a photo so you know when to use it by.
- While you're at The Milk Barn take a selfie and tag us in it on your socials - you may win a prize!
Is the milk homogenised or does it have permeate?
The Milk Barn milk is non-homogenised, so the cream rises naturally to the top. Either shake gently to disperse or scoop the cream off the top to eat or dollop on your cereal or coffee - yum! It’s also permeate-free, meaning nothing is watered down or altered, giving you pure, natural milk as it should be.
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