Kootenay Meadows Farm in Creston is experiencing a shortage of their iconic glass bottles after receiving less than normal returns over the past few weeks.
Kootenay Meadows Farm bottles and sells organic milk across the Kootenays in reusable glass bottles. The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for their usual return program, with some stores no longer accepting the bottles.
Erin Harris of Kootenay Meadows Farm explained that over the past few weeks, some stores across the Kootenays stopped accepting Kootenay Meadows milk bottles for return. She said that some people have also been scared to do so because of the current situation.
“We also sent out a lot of milk over the past few weeks and with less bottles being returned, we’re very low in supply,” Harris said.
There are many grocery stores and small market stores still accepting the bottles however, and Harris is encouraging those with the ability to return them to do so.
“As well, to try and drive bottle returns for the next two weeks we will be doing community pickups of glass where we will have our truck parked in a store parking lot and accept returns and pay deposits,” Harris explained.
Some stores have set up bins outside of the store for returns so customers don’t have to bring them inside. Simply let the store know you’ve done so and they will give you your deposit back.
The following locations in the Kootenays are accepting the glass bottles on an ongoing basis:
Save On Creston
Famous Fritz
Pealows Independent
Crawford Bay Store
Riondel Market
Save On Nelson
Kootenay Co-op
Stoke Market
Sobeys Invermere
Ag Valley Foods Invermere
Ferraro Foods Rossland
Ferraro Foods Trail
Kootenay Market Castlegar
Save On Fernie
Liberty Foods
New Market Foods
Kaslo Front Street Market
Kootenay Meadows will also be in the following locations for the next few days, and will likely continue with the community pickups next week if need be.
Monday, March 30th
Ferraro Foods Trail 9 am – 11 am
Ferraro Foods Rossland 12 – 3 pm
Tuesday, March 31st
Cranbrook Save On 9 am – Noon
Fernie Save On 2 pm – 4 pm
Wednesday, April 1st
Kootenay Market 10 am – 1 pm
corey.bullock@cranbrooktownsman.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter