"mark wilson" wrote:

> Bruce:
> > As with honey, the "raw" label means almost nothing
> > [with cheese]. Legally, companies can heat food to
> > 160 F and still call it "raw" food. ....
> > In the U.S., unfortunately, "raw" doesn't always
> > signify "unheated".
>
> Any idea which companies in the US market real raw
> butter and cheese?

Cheese is the main problem. Just call or write whoever
produces it and ask the maximum temperature they heat
the milk to during before, during, and after culturing
it. Hard cheeses like cheddar, colby, gouda, havarti,
and swiss are usually cultured at 100-104 F. Softer
cheeses are cultured at or below body temp (96-98 F).

Organic Pastures, as you mentioned, does sell raw milk,
cream, butter, and colostrum at health food stores in
California. You can also buy raw dairy openly in a few
other states - New Mexico, Connecticut, Pennsylvania?

Find raw dairy in USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia at
http://www.realmilk.com/

Small family farms, cow-shares, goat-shares, farmer's
markets, co-ops, community supported agriculture (CSA),
Amish, Mennonite, Mormon?, other Old World groups...

The easiest way to approach a farmer, so they are not
breaking any laws:
1. Offer to make a donation for their labor (milking,
bottling, storage, transportation), and they give you
raw milk. Many farms use this loop-hole, because they
are legally allowed to give their raw milk to anyone.
They call this a ministry program, providing raw milk
to the community.
2. Say you want to buy raw milk for your pets/animals
(no food dye added). If you give some to your animals,
you won't be lying. You simply don't mention that you
will also be drinking it. "Don't ask, don't tell." It
is legal to sell raw milk for animal consumption.

-Bruce Kleisner.