Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
I believe the milk laws are federal, and I think the rule is people can sell aged cheeses made from raw milk, but not fresh cheeses. There have definitely been USDA raids but I think some localities do some of their own enforcement, too, and it's sort of a matter of doing what they can get away with. I know one dairy that sells all manner of raw milk products - including butter - boldly labeled "Pet food only, not for human consumption." Okay, my dogs loved butter.

Even if you get pasteurized dairy products, other than a couple of Amish country brands, grocery store dairy isn't going to be grass-fed, not even organic grocery store dairy.
Actually, that's not entirely true. States set the laws concerning raw dairy but within the framework of the Fed. I believe the fed gov only regulates commercial operations. So in Oregon, it is perfectly legal to sell raw dairy as long as you abide by the rules (which are pretty funny and put in place to ensure that there is a big difference between your local farmer and a commercial dairy). The laws are definitely enforced here, too. Most states have laws against raw dairy for human consumption though. I know we are kind of special that way. I can sell raw milk and raw milk products (of any type) from my home/farm...but I cannot advertise or transport it. And I am limited in the number of animals I can have on property that are able to lactate (whether or not they are at the moment) which varies by breed.

I buy pasteurized, pastured dairy at my local grocery store every week! It's ridiculously expensive, so you wouldn't find it at a regular grocery store, I'm sure, but this place sells a lot of this type of stuff. I buy pastured butter and heavy cream and you can get whole milk, too. But yeah, it's not raw. I've found some of the same stuff (Organic Valley brand - but it is 'pastured'...not the regular stuff) at various Whole Foods as well.