Where can I buy good quality butter? The usual stuff is so bad now!

[scrappinginontario]

I don't live in Canada, but I've been buying Kerrygold at Costco for years now. It's sold in 2lb boxes for $12.99 USD. They have both salted and unsalted here.

Just confirming you're buying it at Costco in the US, correct? Right now that might as well be on a different planet for us.

Until the border opens, adding it to my US shopping list.

 

[alohamom]

Notice the label says it's "cultured" butter, which means it's made with sour cream (not the commercial kind). That's what produces the tang and if you don't care for it, avoid butter described as "cultured". Regular dairy butter is not cultured.

Ah ha! that explains the taste, thank you.

 

[Chickinvic]

I'm so disappointed in the butter these days. I have also read about it. Before that I thought our kitchen must be very cold because it just didn't seem like butter softened up the way it used to. Silly me! I'll still take it over margarine any day (I refuse to buy or eat margarine), but it is definitely not the same as before. And, they keep jacking the price up on this worse butter too. It is now normal priced at $4.39/pound here in Victoria. I don't want to pay $11/pound, so I guess I'm stuck with substandard butter.

 

[alohamom]

I'm so disappointed in the butter these days. I have also read about it. Before that I thought our kitchen must be very cold because it just didn't seem like butter softened up the way it used to. Silly me! I'll still take it over margarine any day (I refuse to buy or eat margarine), but it is definitely not the same as before. And, they keep jacking the price up on this worse butter too. It is now normal priced at $4.39/pound here in Victoria. I don't want to pay $11/pound, so I guess I'm stuck with substandard butter.

Glad to know it is not just me!

 

[DLgal]

Just confirming you're buying it at Costco in the US, correct? Right now that might as well be on a different planet for us.

Until the border opens, adding it to my US shopping list.

Yes, in California specifically. They often run sales on it for $4 off. I stock up when they do that.

 

[MamaLema]

Just confirming you're buying it at Costco in the US, correct? Right now that might as well be on a different planet for us.

Until the border opens, adding it to my US shopping list.

No Kerrygold butter here in Canada although I have seen the cheese at Costco.
Right now I’m using Baker’s Gold and I like it enough.

 

[ronandannette]

I'm so disappointed in the butter these days. I have also read about it. Before that I thought our kitchen must be very cold because it just didn't seem like butter softened up the way it used to. Silly me! I'll still take it over margarine any day (I refuse to buy or eat margarine), but it is definitely not the same as before. And, they keep jacking the price up on this worse butter too. It is now normal priced at $4.39/pound here in Victoria. I don't want to pay $11/pound, so I guess I'm stuck with substandard butter.

Store brand (Compliments and Superstore yellow label generic) in Calgary this week is $4.99 and national brands (Dairy World and Lactancia) is $5.99.

No Kerrygold butter here in Canada although I have seen the cheese at Costco.
Right now I’m using Baker’s Gold and I like it enough.

Where do you buy that brand? I don't think I've ever seen it.

 

[alohamom]

No Kerrygold butter here in Canada although I have seen the cheese at Costco.
Right now I’m using Baker’s Gold and I like it enough.

I have seen it in stores but I thought it was a version of margarine but I was wrong!
Ohhh I am going to give it a try, thank you @MamaLema

This is from the Gay Lea website
Bakers Gold
Elevate every meal. And every moment. This butter, churned to a European standard at 84% milk fat, is your new secret ingredient. Higher milk fat and less moisture means baking that’s richer. Flakier. Tastier. It’s butter - and baking - on a whole new level. And a taste experience you’ll love to share.

Ingredients
Cream (milk)
Product Facts

• Barrel-churned
• 84% milk fat
• Surpassing European standards
• Perfect for baking
• Kosher
• 250g

Availability
Nationwide

 

[alohamom]

Where do you buy that brand? I don't think I've ever seen it.

I know they carry it at my local Sobeys

 

[MamaLema]

Store brand (Compliments and Superstore yellow label generic) in Calgary this week is $4.99 and national brands (Dairy World and Lactancia) is $5.99.

Where do you buy that brand? I don't think I've ever seen it.

My Metro carries it

 

[Starwind]

Here is an article from a Toronto organization that may provide some insight into some options for palm oil -free dairy, including butter : https://www.freshcityfarms.com/blogs/how-we-source-our-dairy-products

 

[ronandannette]

I can’t help wondering why this change was made to cattle feed - dairy producers apparently got along without it for many decades. And now with the negative effects on the products being so undeniable, why don’t they stop? There is apparently a fairly strong resistance to doing so, and a weird denial of anything being wrong with the butter, despite countless anecdotal observations confirming it.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-dairy-farmers-palm-fat-hard-butter-1.5927559

 

[alohamom]

I can’t help wondering why this change was made to cattle feed - dairy producers apparently got along without it for many decades. And now with the negative effects on the products being so undeniable, why don’t they stop? There is apparently a fairly strong resistance to doing so, and a weird denial of anything being wrong with the butter, despite countless anecdotal observations confirming it.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-dairy-farmers-palm-fat-hard-butter-1.5927559

Well, I am not sure and I do not like to get political on here but Canadian dairy farmers got run over by the re-negotiated 2020 USMCA (formerly NAFTA)
Before Canadian dairy was fairly protected but as of 2020 the new agreement "allows U.S. farmers access to up to 3.6% of the Canadian market and vice versa"
I can't help but think this has something to do with it, I mean the timing is right.
https://www.iheartradio.ca/cjad/news/american-milk-is-now-being-sold-in-canada-1.8487292Then you add the increased demand from everyone being at home during the pandemic lockdowns and you have stress on the supply of Canadian products.

Idk, it kind of break my heart a little that the feds just gave so much of Canada up in that re-negotiation.

 

[Chickinvic]

Store brand (Compliments and Superstore yellow label generic) in Calgary this week is $4.99

Actually, you are right. Most run of the mill butter here in Victoria stores is now $4.99. Up until maybe 6 months ago it could usually be bought for $3.99. But, I'm sure the government will say inflation is right on target of always being under 2% lolol. Never trust the official inflation figures since the government has so many payments tied to their fictional cost of living increases. If they were accurate, then OAS and CPP payments (as well as many other support payments) would have to increase dramatically.

 

[Nahanni]

Here's an article and link about a creamery in Alliston, Ontario that makes a brand called Golden Dawn.

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada...-to-last-independent-creamery-in-ontario.html
http://allistoncreamery.com/index.html
In Toronto DVP/Don Mills area, Golden Dawn is carried at freshfromthefarm.ca

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks for posting this @Nahanni! This creamery is my coworker's family! Small world!

My friend is a baker and she loves this butter for baking croissants!

 

[suse66]

I swear by Kawartha Dairy butter. It is absolutely the best!

 

[sheilafri]

Any suggestions as to where to buy Kerrygold butter in the GTA?

Costco often carries it in the US.

 

[bcwife76]

Costco often carries it in the US.

They do but since the land border still isn't open, that unfortunately is not an option at the moment.