Raw Milk Drives Ballston Farm’s Success
he Willow-Marsh Farm Store in the Town of Ballston has been growing exponentially over the last handful of years, its owners said. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
BALLSTON — Sara and Chuck Curtiss, the married couple who run the Willow-Marsh Farm Store in the Town of Ballston, have found success by providing a product that’s unique to Saratoga County: raw milk.
“The raw milk has had quite a drive and it’s constantly increasing,” Chuck said.
“Our customer base has grown so quickly,” Sara said. “Each year, the business has gone up like 30% one year, 40% one year, 70% during COVID, 30% last year, and then this year we’re at 40%.”
As the business continues to grow, so too does the farm itself and its product offerings. A creamery is currently being built that will allow Willow-Marsh to produce its own yogurt and once again make its own raw milk cheese.
According to RealMilk.com, the closest locations where one can purchase raw milk products are in Canajoharie and Ghent, both of which are at least a 45-minute drive away from the Ballston area. For most Saratoga County residents, Willow-Marsh is their closest raw milk dealer.
Raw milk, simply put, is unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization is a process by which raw milk is heated up in an effort to eliminate pathogens and extend the product’s shelf life. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unpasteurized milk can carry dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that “consuming raw milk can lead to serious health risks, especially for certain vulnerable populations.”
Although not widely available, the production and sale of raw milk is legal in New York State, under certain conditions. The state requires all raw milk dealers to obtain a license in order to sell raw milk directly to the public, and the milk can only be sold on the farm where it is produced.
Chuck said his farm is subject to monthly, unannounced inspections in which the milk, water, cheese, and cows are all assessed.
“We’re held at a higher level of everything; cleanliness, equipment maintenance, stuff like that,” Chuck said. “We really have to be careful, be clean, and protect that.”
“When we are educating customers about the raw milk and the inspection process, they’re always like, ‘oh, the government.’ They complain, ‘that’s awful,’” Sara said. “I’m like no, actually our inspectors are super nice, considerate, and want what’s best for the public.”
Raw milk advocates argue that the taste and nutritional benefits of raw milk are significantly better than the pasteurized variety. The Raw Milk Institute, which Willow-Marsh links to on their website, states that raw milk contains a “variety of essential nutrients, fats, proteins, anti-inflammatory and digestive enzymes, bioavailable vitamins, and minerals.”
“We have a lot of customers telling us their doctor, their chiropractor, or their holistic dentist sent them here,” Sara said.
As for the taste, “it’s sweet,” Chuck said. “It’s like drinking ice cream.”
Of course, it’s not just dairy products that fly off the shelves in the farm’s store. Beef, veal, and Mangalitsa pork are hot items. The store is also stocked with fresh local produce, honey, maple syrup, and handmade goods such as candles and jewelry.
The fifth-generation family farm used to primarily sustain itself by supplying Stewart’s Shops with milk. But it has since diversified and secured the valuable raw milk license. It also hosts a wide variety of events, including this summer’s “Big Gay Family Bash,” sound baths, bonfires, candle-making workshops, and the upcoming first-ever garlic and music festival on October 12.
The Willow-Marsh Farm Store is located at 343 Hop City Road in Ballston Spa and is open Wednesday through Sunday.