A behind the scenes look at Brownes Dairy

Our nutritionists put on their learning hats and headed to Brownes Dairy in Balcatta for a behind the scenes tour of one of Western Australia’s most iconic dairy producers.

The team were warmly welcomed by farmer Damien, Jo and Curly Sue the farm dog. They introduced us to Brownes Dairy’s community program where thousands of students take part in free school tours each year. These tours help children learn where milk comes from, why it is good for us and how it forms part of a healthy diet.

The tour included a short video called From Moo ToYou showing how milk is sourced from dairy farms in the South West, collected in tankers and taken to Brunswick where it is processed. From there it is packaged at the Balcatta facility before heading to supermarkets and onto our tables.

Farmer Damien explained how milk is made safe to drink and talked through standardisation, homogenisation and pasteurisation and the rigorous testing that happens from farm to packaging. It was a great reminder of the huge amount of work that goes into producing the dairy foods many of us enjoy every day.

The tour continued in the production facility, with strict food safety measures, including PPE, hygiene protocols and the specialist equipment in action keeping products safe and fresh.

One of the highlights was visiting the innovation kitchen where the team took part in taste testing the new range of yoghurts and had fun guessing the flavours before seeing the packaging.

The team also had the chance to see the fast paced production line where different products are filled, sealed and packed ready for shelves. Seeing how quickly everything moves behind the scenes was fascinating.

The tour finished with Belinda the cow. Some of the team even tried their hand at milking which brought plenty of laughs and made the experience extra memorable.

It was a fun and informative visit that not only deepened our understanding of dairy production but will help strengthen the way we talk about nutrition in our programs and classrooms.