The state’s oldest dairy is giving up dairy after The Giazomazzi family members decided to try something fresh, saying it wasn’t a viable option to stay in a dying industry. “Over the last 5 years, it’s been very difficult to make money in the dairy industry, regulations, increased cost of labor, low milk prices,” “Being that this dairy is over 125 years old, it’s not very efficient. It’s not modern, so we have to either invest to upgrade this dairy or invest in something else,” said Dino Giacomazzi.
“We’ve probably lost like 500 dairy farms in the state in the last ten years, dairy farmer Cornell Kasbergen said. “You’re better off putting your money into trees…. almonds, pistachios, grapes. There’s a lot of alternatives that provide a higher return than milking cows,” said dairy farmer Cornell Kasberbergen.
“We’ve chosen to commit the rest of our property to growing almond trees and we’re going to sell the cows and become almond farmers.” said Giacomazzi. All the while auctioning their remaining herd of approximately 2,000 cows and with a growing vision of 900 acres of land for nut trees.
They are not the first dairy farmers to make this switch over, to name a just two; Elmhurst who was in business for over 90 years turned to the making of vegan milks after 90 years in business, called Elmhurst Milked. Also, former goat farmers Julian and Carol Pearce who produced award-winning goat’s milk cheese also made the move to plant-based with a Sanctuary that is home to goats, cows, horses, pigs, chickens, etc. at Soledad Goats and a exquisitine line of vegan cheeses. There are many more to name!
The solution is leaving animals out of the equation for our health, the animals and our planet.
