As one of South Africa’s most beloved and nutritious beverages, it is essential that raw milk is transported safely and efficiently to ensure that it arrives at processing plants (and shelves) in the best possible condition. From farmer to shelf, the process requires consistency and care.
Let’s take a look at milk’s intricate journey: 🚚
Collection
The first step in the transportation process is to collect the raw milk from dairy farms in tankers that are specially designed to maintain the milk’s temperature and quality during transportation. The tankers come in a variety of sizes to cater to different volumes of milk, ranging from small tankers for smallholder farmers to large tankers for commercial farms.
Maintaining strict hygiene standards during the collection process is very crucial, as any contamination can affect the milk’s quality and safety. Tankers are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised before and after each collection, and drivers must wear appropriate personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of diseases. 🦺
Transportation to processing plants
Once the milk has been collected, it is transported to processing plants. The tankers are fitted with equipment that measures the milk’s temperature and monitors its quality during transportation. This data is transmitted in real-time to the processing plant, allowing plant managers to monitor the milk’s condition and make any necessary adjustments to the processing operations.
Transporting milk over long distances can be challenging, especially in SA’s warm climate. Tankers are fitted with refrigeration systems to keep the milk at a constant temperature during transportation, ensuring that the milk remains fresh and safe for consumption when it arrives at the processing plant.
Compliance with necessary regulations
In SA, milk transport is regulated by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, which sets strict guidelines for milk transport, ensuring that all transporters comply with the necessary regulations. These guidelines include requirements for the design of tankers, hygiene standards, and the training of drivers and operators.
It is important to maintain high standards at each stage. By following strict hygiene standards and using specialized equipment, SA’s milk transporters ensure that the milk arrives at processing plants in the best possible condition, to produce high-quality and nutritious dairy products that South Africans have come to know and love. Remember to always support local dairy! 🇿🇦
Tip-Top Milk is passionate and proud to transport raw milk from dairy farmers to processing plants across South Africa, who then turn milk into the dairy-licious products you see on the shelves today. Need a reliable transporter for your raw milk? Click here to learn how we would love to partner with you.