What Local Dairy Products Were Delivered In Old-Fashioned Milk Boxes?
Do you remember the days when a milkman delivered milk to your front door? If not, you may have heard your parents or grandparents talk about old-fashioned milk deliveries.
Back then, you could have milk delivered to your home on an as-need basis. On delivery days, the milkman would leave a crate of milk cartons on your front stoop. But, milkmen didn’t just deliver milk. They delivered other dairy products and farm-to-table goods like eggs and butter as well.
Provided here is more information on the other types of local and farm-fresh products that were – and continue to be – delivered in milk boxes through milk delivery services.
A Brief History of Milk Delivery
Before the 1970s, it was fairly common to have milk delivered to your home instead of purchasing it in stores. In the 1960s, about 30% of milk was delivered by milkmen, but it wasn’t common for people to own refrigerators before then. So, the only way to keep milk fresh was to have it delivered daily.
That’s where daily milk delivery services came into play – the safe and cost-effective way to consume perishable dairy products. Some dairy farmers would even offer delivery of butter and eggs since these were also perishable.
How Did Old-Fashioned Milk Delivery Work?
The operation of milk delivery services depended on the milkman and the timeframe. In the 1960s, the milkman would complete their deliveries by truck. However, in early times, a horse or a large dog pulled a cart with cases of milk.
But before that, the milkman would come door to door with a large metal milk barrel and portion out the milk at each house. In those instances, customers had to provide their own milk jug, which meant they had to be home at the time of the delivery.
When refrigerators became a common household item, this was the beginning of the end for old-fashioned milk and dairy delivery services.
What Other Products Can You Get from Local Dairy Farmers?
Milk delivery services delivered more than just milk products. For example, milkmen delivered an assortment of perishable dairy and farm-fresh goods, including butter and eggs, back in the day.
Modern milk delivery services strive to keep this tradition alive by enriching and revolutionizing the farm-to-table experience through a variety of farm-fresh goods. These products include grass-fed meats (beef, chicken, pork, etc.), hand-churned butter, pesticide and chemical-free herbs, gluten-free bread, and raw honey. Often, milkmen also deliver fresh, seasonal vegetables.
A great place to get the most high-quality farm-fresh goods? The Modern Milkman! Milk products from The Modern Milkman come in glass bottles in a variety of choices like whole milk, two percent, skim, half & half, heavy cream, and chocolate or coffee. We deliver our milk immediately following the pasteurization process (which occurs just after milking the cows) to ensure freshness. Like traditional milkmen, we work with local farmers to provide other farm-fresh dairy products, baked goods, eggs, and butter directly to your door. We even offer yogurt, cookie, granola, and dip, and their flavors change weekly.
Contact The Modern Milkman for Milk Delivery Services
At Modern Milkman, we are dedicated to reviving this timeless tradition while simultaneously supporting farm-to-table consumption. Like the old-fashioned milkmen, our delivery services offer milk and dairy products, baked goods, farm-fresh eggs, and more!
For farm-fresh eating and getting back to the simpler times, visit The Modern Milkman to sign up for one of our product subscriptions today!
