"We believe milk was designed to nourish the human body, and our job is simply not to get in the way."

For over 20 years we have been producing raw milk the way it was always meant to be — clean animals, clean land, clean process, and hard data to back it up.

Our Philosophy

Milk the way God intended it.

Raw milk has nourished families for thousands of years. We believe that when it is produced with the right animals, on healthy pasture, with rigorous cleanliness and consistent testing, it is one of the most complete and life-giving foods available.

At Dutch Meadows Farm, we have been producing and selling raw milk for over 20 years. We source from a carefully selected group of Amish farmers right here in Lancaster County and the surrounding region — every one of them committed to the same standards of animal welfare and cleanliness that we hold ourselves to. We know these farmers personally. We visit their farms. We test every single batch of milk we receive.

We are certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture as a raw milk producer. Whether or not raw milk is right for your family is a personal decision, and we respect that. Our job is to make sure that if you choose it, it comes from a source you can trust completely.

The Herd

Dutch Belted cows. A heritage breed built for quality, not quantity.

Not all milk is the same, and not all cows are the same. Our farmers raise Dutch Belted cattle — one of America's oldest and rarest heritage dairy breeds, recognized for centuries for the exceptional quality of their milk rather than sheer production volume.

Why Dutch Belted milk is different

Dutch Belted cows produce milk with naturally small fat globules. This unique characteristic means the fat is more finely distributed throughout the milk, making it easier for the body to digest and absorb. Our fluid milk and butter are 100% A2/A2 tested, meaning they contain only the A2 beta-casein protein — the form that many people find significantly gentler on digestion than conventional milk.

100% A2/A2 Tested Small Fat Globules Heritage Breed Lancaster County Pasture-Raised Grass-Fed

Our cows graze on open pasture across Lancaster County and the surrounding area. Healthy land produces healthy animals, and healthy animals produce milk worth drinking. It is as simple as that.

Cleanliness & Process

Clean animals. Clean equipment. Every single time.

Safety in raw milk comes down to discipline and consistency, not luck. Here is how we approach every pickup and every batch.

1
Farmer selection. Every farmer in our network is personally known to us, located in Lancaster County or the immediate surrounding area, and committed to the same cleanliness standards we require. We visit farms and maintain direct relationships with every source.
2
Udder preparation. Before milking, every cow's udder is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Cows are dried and stripped before the milker is attached. Any animal showing signs of illness is handled separately and her milk is never included.
3
Equipment sanitation. All milking equipment, lines, and bulk tanks are washed with soap and hot water before and after every use. No shortcuts.
4
Rapid chilling. Milk is chilled to 38–42°F immediately after milking. Cold, clean milk and nothing else.
5
Batch testing before release. Every batch of milk we pick up is tested on-site before it ever reaches a customer. If it does not pass, it does not ship. No exceptions.
6
Cold chain maintained. Milk is kept at 38–42°F from pickup through delivery. Our target is a minimum 7-day shelf life from the time it reaches you.

We and our family drink this milk every single day. That is not a marketing line. It is the most honest guarantee we can offer.

Testing & Certification

We test every batch. The state tests us too.

Pennsylvania requires raw milk producers to meet strict standards and submit to regular third-party laboratory testing and farm inspections. We go beyond what is required because we believe you deserve more than the minimum.

Coliform Count (CC) Limit

< 10

est. col/ml • same standard as bottled water

Standard Plate Count (SPC) Limit

< 20,000

est. col/ml • PA Dept. of Agriculture standard

PA State Inspections

4x / year

plus state lab testing 2x per month

Every batch is tested on-farm for Coliform Count (CC) and Standard Plate Count (SPC). We also conduct regular third-party pathogen testing at certified laboratories:

Indicator Tests

SPC & CC

General hygiene and bacterial load. Tested every batch, on-farm and through state-certified labs.

Pathogen Testing

Salmonella

Third-party lab certified.

Zero Tolerance
Pathogen Testing

E. coli O157:H7

Third-party lab certified.

Zero Tolerance
Pathogen Testing

Listeria monocytogenes

Third-party lab certified.

Zero Tolerance
Pathogen Testing

Campylobacter jejuni

Third-party lab certified.

Zero Tolerance
Herd Health

TB & Brucellosis

Annual blood testing by a licensed veterinarian.

Zero Tolerance
Test Results

Recent weekly averages — farm-wide.

Every week we test every batch of milk we receive. The numbers below are farm-wide averages grouped by calendar week, newest first. Green means passing. All values must fall under 10 for CC and 20,000 for SPC to be released.

Loading test results...

Values shown are farm-wide averages across all farmers, grouped by calendar week (Monday through Sunday). All values in estimated colony-forming units per milliliter (est. col/ml).

Common Questions

Answers to what we hear most often.

Is raw milk safe?
Raw milk produced with proper animal management, rigorous cleanliness, and consistent testing is a very low-risk food. The risk profile is very different between milk produced for pasteurization and milk produced specifically for raw consumption. We produce exclusively for raw consumption, which means every decision we make — from the farmers we source from to the testing we run — is made with that standard in mind. Whether raw milk is right for you is a personal choice, and we encourage you to do your own research. Good starting points are the Raw Milk Institute at rawmilkinstitute.org and the Weston A. Price Foundation at westonaprice.org.
What makes Dutch Belted milk different from regular raw milk?
Dutch Belted cows are a heritage breed known for producing milk with naturally small fat globules, which many people find easier to digest. Our fluid milk and butter are also 100% A2/A2 tested. A2 milk contains only the A2 form of beta-casein protein, which differs from the A1 protein found in most commercial dairy. Many people who have difficulty with conventional milk find A2 milk much more comfortable.
How fresh is the milk when I receive it?
Our milk is kept cold from the moment it leaves the farm through delivery to your door. We target a minimum 7-day shelf life from the time it reaches you. Clean, cold raw milk with a low coliform count keeps well and has excellent flavor. If your milk is souring quickly, that is a sign of elevated coliform bacteria — which is exactly what our testing is designed to prevent.
Where do your farmers come from?
Every farm in our network is located in Lancaster County or the immediate surrounding area of south-central Pennsylvania. We know each farmer personally, visit their operations, and hold them to the same cleanliness and animal welfare standards we hold ourselves to. The milk you receive is local in the truest sense.
Do you drink your own milk?
Every single day. We would not sell anything to your family that we do not give our own.
Who regulates raw milk in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture certifies and regulates raw milk producers in the state. They conduct farm inspections four times per year and require state-certified laboratory testing of our milk twice per month. Pennsylvania is one of the more progressive states for raw milk access, and we are proud to be a fully certified producer operating well above the minimum standards required.
Should I pasteurize my milk at home?
That is entirely your choice, and we respect it. If you choose to pasteurize at home, the milk will still be from the same clean source. If you choose to drink it raw, you can review our test results above and know exactly what the data says. We recommend exploring rawmilkinstitute.org and westonaprice.org to help you make an informed decision for your family.

"And he took butter and milk and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree as they ate."

Genesis 18:8

Have more questions? We are happy to talk through anything.

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Dutch Meadows Farm

  • 753 Country Lane
    Paradise PA 17562
  • (717) 442-9208

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