ORTON Grange Farm and Cumbrian food champions Cranstons have come together to launch an innovative fresh milk vending machine.

Customers can purchase an eco-friendly glass bottle from the food hall then continue to return for a refill from the vending machine, reducing plastic waste whilst enjoying fresh milk from the farm’s parlour right next door.

Orton Grange Farm is home to more than 300 cattle and Emma Little has been working there for almost 25 years. She started as a Saturday girl and now manages the farm’s black and white Holstein herd.

Emma said: “It is really exciting to offer our milk direct to customers here on the farm where it is produced. The milk is pasteurised on the farm to ensure it is food safe but is not further processed as is the case with supermarket milk.

“The fact it isn’t homogenised means customers will still experience the delicious cream you get on the top of the tank. I’ve been taking milk home from the tank for years, it makes a really good coffee and is great for baking.’’

Orton Grange food hall manager Chris Russell said: “We are really chuffed to be able to offer customers fresh milk from the farm. Cranstons are well known for linking with local farmers on meat and delicatessen ranges, so it is brilliant to be able to offer milk produced right on the farm too.

“The machine is just one of many eco-friendly initiatives Cranstons are currently involved in, we recently launched a Cumbrian-grown vegetable range at our food hall in Penrith which we hope to adopt here at Orton soon”.

The Martin family have been farming at Orton Grange for more than 60 years. In 2003, Richard Martin and his sisters diversified, opening a gift shop and café.

Richard said: “My sisters and I are really excited about this new venture which will create a stronger link from farm to food hall. We grew up drinking fresh milk from the tank and supermarket milk just doesn’t compare.

“We think it’s great that locals and visitors alike can enjoy our pasteurised milk in re-usable glass bottles, we know they will enjoy the fresh farm milk experience and that it will mean less plastic milk bottles going to landfill.”