Family-Owned Dairy Farm Asks North Texas Residents: Got Milk?
Discover > Business Spotlight > Family-Owned Dairy Farm Asks North Texas Residents: Got Milk?
Nestled in the valleys of the scenic Texas Hill Country some 100 miles southwest of Fort Worth, Volleman’s Family Farm is a small-scale dairy operation run by husband and wife Frank and Annette Volleman. The couple launched their farming careers in the small European nation of Luxembourg, before immigrating to the Lone Star State in 1993. 25 years later, they continue to serve their fellow Texans, producing high-quality milk in responsible, sustainable ways.
Through the creation of a new partnership with Kansas-based company Shatto Home Delivery, Volleman’s products are about to become more widely accessible than ever before. Shatto began life as Shatto Milk Company some six years prior, so the partnership between the two seems well-suited. The project marks Shatto’s first expansion outside of Kansas City, let alone in a separate state.
This exciting collaboration fills a growing void in the Texan dairy market; one that reflects similar trends nationwide. Milk consumption throughout the U.S. has seen a marked decrease over the past several years, with liquid milk consumption dropping 40% since 1975. Just as we see within the meat industry, plant-based alternatives are asserting themselves with the market as well, with U.S. sales of plant-based dairy products growing 20% in 2020.
Volleman's Family Farm aims to lure milk-drinkers back to the basics by offering high-quality dairy products paired with the peace of mind provided by responsible, sustainable operation. Practices are implemented to reduce erosion and runoff, decrease water usage, replenish the soil's nutrients and reduce plastic waste via old-fashioned, reusable glass bottles. Through these methods, Volleman's provides the surrounding Texas Hill Country with fresh, nutritious milk families can feel good about: free of artificial flavours such as strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and cappuccino. Customers opting for home delivery service may request specific products as they need them, or may opt for a curated weekly bundle such as the "2% milk and healthy loaf" combo for $27.99, consisting of one pantry item, two dairy items, and one premium meat item.
According to Matt Shatto, owner of Shatto Home Delivery, the idea of dairy delivery has thrived in Kansas City because it creates a sense of nostalgia for the old-fashioned milkmen of days gone by.
"Customers who remember the milkman want to share that experience with their children and grandchildren," says Shatto. "And we see the relationship between the milkmen and their families, they're familiar relationships. It's refreshing. Some tell me that for kids, it's like Christmas every week."
While Volleman products can be found on the shelves of over 160 local supermarkets, home delivery makes access to their products far more readily available. Customers can simply place a cooler on their doorstep, and it will be filled weekly with fresh milk and other dairy products.
Once empty, glass milk bottles can be placed in the cooler as well, to be picked up for reuse. The use of glass bottles serves a greater purpose than sustainability and nostalgia: it boosts the quality of the product. According to Volleman, glass helps keeps the milk colder for longer periods, guarding against contamination and unwanted flavouring from packaging such as plastic or cardboard.
Volleman delivery routes are currently available to residents throughout the DFW metropolitan area. Residents outside the serviced area are encouraged to notify Volleman of their interest in additional routes.
Residents wishing to learn more about Volleman Family Farm are invited to participate in daily tours. Visitors can learn how the farm's milk is produced, as well as get a taste of the crucial importance of local agriculture and what exactly it takes to become a successful dairy farmer. Guests can even meet the cows themselves, feeding and petting the baby calves in the farm's luxurious, cross-vent barn. Tours last around 2.5 hours, with admission fees ranging from $7.50 to $15.00 per person. Children under the age of 3 are admitted free of charge.
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