As of next week, milk from three Jamberoo Valley farmers is going to be marketed under its own name, as part of the Country Valley range of products.

“I've had three farmers supplying their milk to us for seven to eight months, and I thought it would be great to give it a local focus,” says Country Valley’s John Fairley.

“I have a system to guarantee the provenance by keeping it all separate from our other suppliers.

“I can’t say it is from Jamberoo if it isn’t, that isn’t what it is about.”

The 150 Jamberoo cattle are currently delivering 10,500 litres a week to his processing plant in Picton.

“That is a 30 per cent drop on before, due to the conditions, but that will build back up,” says John.

While demand builds, not all of that milk will be sold as Jamberoo Valley Milk, but will continue to be combined with milk from Picton and sold under the Country Valley label.

Formerly supplying Dairy Farmers, John says that the three farmers who have joined him are getting above what they can get from the big companies.

“I’m interested in one more local farmer on board,” he says.

Distribution of the new milk will be down the coast from Wollongong, with the inaugural full cream and light milk being available from the Jamberoo IGA from this Wednesday.

“We are keen to get cafes and shops on board so it is easy to buy local,” he says.

Coincidentally, John recently sold the last of his dairy herd to Stephen Downes, one of the Jamberoo farmers involved, so he could concentrate on the processing and distribution of the milk, which he started 18 years ago.

The launch of Jamberoo Valley Milk comes at a time when The Pines Kiama has stopped selling its milk, due to a new stipulation on the sale of lids that made it impossible for them to keep selling in reuseable glass bottles.

They are currently looking for a way to make their milk available through a dispenser system in their retail outlet, The Pines Pantry in Collins St.