For the final stop on our Fodder on the Mooove journey, we visited Acorn Dairy, our organic milk producer based in Darlington.
Acorn Dairy is a fourth-generation, family-run dairy farm. In 1998, the family began farming without chemicals to Soil Association organic standards. This nurtured, not just the land and cows, but also provided a local milk option for consumers wanting organic food.
For customers, this gives reassurance that an everyday consumed product they enjoy is made to higher cow welfare standards, with no artificial chemicals, preservatives and routine antibiotics. The Acorn Dairy herd, grass clover rich pastures that have not seen a chemical in nearly 30 years.
“At Acorn Dairy, animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do.” Caroline Bell
Their ladies are truly free-range, spending as much time outdoors as possible and grazing on high-quality, chemical-free grass and silage. The herd is carefully cared for by the team and milked in a clean, modern parlour designed with their wellbeing in mind.
Acorn Dairy avoids artificial fertilisers by using legumes such as clover and beans to naturally add nitrogen back into the soil, alongside composted manure. This helps keep the soil healthy, improves water quality and supports the wider ecosystem. Healthy soil produces more nutritious forage, which in turn supports the cows and contributes to the quality of the milk they produce.
Since switching to organic farming, Acorn Dairy has also seen wildlife flourish across the farm, largely thanks to its chemical-free land and more natural approach to managing the environment. The farm now hosts 98 different bird species across the year.
By caring for the soil, their cows and the wildlife around them, Acorn Dairy maintains a natural balance that helps produce the best possible milk while benefiting the environment.
Acorn Dairy has been supplying Fodder for almost 17 years. We stock their range of organic milk in different sizes, along with their organic butter, which is a firm favourite at Fodder.
Caroline said: “It means everything working with Fodder and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. Fodder is a solid and reliable backbone to our business, and the Society has done so much to support us.’’
Take a look back at the rest of our Fodder on the Mooove journey, where we visited Sawley Kitchen, The Kandler’s Table and Harrogate Brewing Company.
