Milk prices are at a record high around the state and country. Many consumers say they feel the difference.
«It would be totally awesome if it was cheaper,» says Joe Rogan, a milk drinker who says he spends between $15 and $20 a week on milk. «Especially with a staple like milk, because not only do you drink it, you use it on everything so it goes pretty quickly. You start to realize how quickly the price adds up.»
In the last six months alone, milk prices have gone up as much as $.30 a gallon.
«I should almost buy a cow from them as much as my son drinks,» says Bob Timney, a milk consumer.
In November, the average gallon of whole milk cost $4.03. Now, that same gallon costs $4.31
«Processors in the state of Pennsylvania, as well as the producing farms, are aware of how this impacts consumers,» says Tom Palchak, the manager at the Penn State Berkey Creamery. «If consumers don’t buy the milk then, we’re all hurting.»
The price hike is impacting where some consumers shop for their dairy products.
«I like to look at prices first and judge where I go,» says Jillian Timmerman, a milk drinker.
Palchak cites gas prices as one of the main reasons milk costs so much right now.
«That impacts prices enormously because the trucks have to go far distances to pick the milk up,» says Palchak. «They have to pick the milk up everyday.»
The Creamery manager says their location, and other local dairy providers, can charge around $.80 less for a gallon of skim milk for example, because they don’t have to transport the milk.
One of the student managers at the Creamery says customers are shocked when they see the prices.
«Normally they come in and they just kind of remark ‘Wow, your guy’s prices are really low’ or ‘that’s so cheap,'» says Samantha Gladlee.
Consumers hope some relief is in sight.
«When you put it in a budget and you’re getting discounts, it doesn’t really matter where you’re getting it from,» says Rogan. «Every little bit counts.»
Palchak says prices could come as soon as June 1st. He says shoppers could see prices go down as much as $.12 to $.15 a gallon.
Source: WeAre CentralPa