Female farming team launches mobile milk vending machine

A dairy farm near Grantham has launched a new milk vending machine in a bid to offer people quality produce straight from the farm gate and an alternative to using plastic.

Dairy farmer Ann Harrison, 59, runs Manor Farm in Ponton Road, Boothby Pagnell, alongside her sister Julie Smith, 56, and niece Rachel Smith. They launched their new pasteurised milk self-pouring vending machine last Monday and said customers have been queuing up to fill up their glass bottles with fresh whole milk just feet away from the cows that made it.

Customers can purchase a one litre reusable glass bottle from the farm for £2 and get a litre of pasteurised whole milk for £1.

The milk is not homogenised or separated and is handled as little as possible in order to retain all its natural goodness. This minimal processing means the milk has a good old-fashioned cream line at the top of the bottle and a whole fresh milk taste.

The all-female farming trio, who manage a herd of 400 cows, said they were inspired to install the machine after seeing farmers in other counties doing it, but believe that they are the first to open one in Lincolnshire.

Ann, who has been farming since she was 16 years old, said: “We did a lot of research and went to look at quite a few milk vending machines in other locations and found that people really wanted something like this. People are aware that farmers are poorly paid for their milk and they seem to be more conscious about where their food is coming from.

“We did look at installing the machine in different locations including pubs and village halls but decided to have it here on the farm where its produced from our lovely Holstein and Brown Swiss cows.”

The trio were also keen to give customers an alternative to using plastic.

Julie, who joined the family farm 18 months ago, said: “Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstal’s BBC One series ‘War on Plastic’ and of course Sir David Attenborough, has really had a big impact on local people wanting to do their bit and reduce plastic so it felt like the right time to do it. It is also our chance to educate people about the health benefits of milk and about where milk comes from so we will always welcome school visits etc.”

To mark the opening of the vending machine on Monday, they held a special happy hour on Monday and Tuesday where customers who bought a a reusable glass bottle could can have one litre of milk for free.

Ann added: “We were expecting about two or three customers on Monday so was pleasantly surprised when we got about 20 turn up throughout the day. We have continued to get customers throughout the week including repeat visits. Everyone one we have spoken to has said that they think it is a fantastic idea and have been waiting for something like this. Everyone seems to have really got on board with it.”

The farming family have managed the farm since the 1920s and their grandfather also had a milk round in Grantham.

As well as Ann and Julie, Julie’s 28-year-old daughter Rachel Smith also works on the farm as herd manager. She joins Ann at 5am every day to milk the farm’s 200 cows for three hours before milking them for another three hours in the afternoon. They are also up throughout the night to help the cows give birth.

Rachel, who spent 18 months working on a dairy farm in Canada, added: “I enjoy it. You have to else you wouldn’t be able to do it as it’s hard work and long hours.”

“She is the next generation,” added Ann.

Despite only just opening the vending machine the trio are already planning for the future.

Rachel added: “We have been talking about selling eggs from the vending machine.

“We also know someone that keeps bees in Bitchfield so we may even start to sell honey and there’s also cream.

Bassingthorpe Milk is available from 7am to 7pm from Manor Farm, Boothby Pagnell, Grantham.

You can also follow Bassingthorpe Milk on Facebook for updates and more information.