As South Africans mark World Milk Day on 1 June, the conversation around milk is shifting beyond breakfast tables and lunchboxes toward something deeper: the people, farms, care and sustainability practices behind every glass families pour each day.
This year, NESTLÉ NESPRAY is inviting consumers to look beyond the product itself and discover the journey that begins on South African dairy farms before reaching homes across the country. Under the 2026 World Milk Day theme, “sustainability in the dairy sector”, the brand is placing a spotlight on the local farmers, communities and quality processes that help shape one of South Africa’s most trusted dairy products.
At the heart of this story is Skimmelkrans, a dairy farm supplying fresh milk to the NESPRAY factory in Mossel Bay — a working example of how local agriculture, responsible farming and food production intersect to support families every day.
From South African Farms to Family Tables
For many families, milk is a daily essential. But behind every serving lies an extensive network of local farmers, processors and agricultural specialists working to maintain consistency, nutrition and safety.
NESPRAY is produced using 100% locally sourced fresh milk from more than 96 dairy farms across the Eastern and Western Cape, reinforcing the brand’s long-standing connection to South African agriculture and rural communities.
These farms are not only producing milk at scale, but are also helping drive more responsible dairy farming practices focused on environmental preservation and sustainable food production.
Leading contributors such as Rooiheuwel Farms, Oakdale Agricultural High School and Grasslands Agriculture are highlighted as examples of farms embracing lower-carbon farming approaches while maintaining strong production standards.
Rooiheuwel Farms, for example, operates across 426 hectares and sustains a predominantly Jersey cow herd, with each cow producing approximately 21 litres of milk daily.
The Journey Behind Every Glass
Inside the Mossel Bay factory, the process continues with careful quality control measures designed to ensure the milk reaching consumers meets the standards families expect from NESPRAY products.
According to Masechaba Sekhitla, World Milk Day serves as an opportunity to celebrate the many people behind the products South Africans consume daily.
“World Milk Day is an opportunity to celebrate the people, communities and local expertise behind the products families enjoy every day. From trusted local dairy farms like Skimmelkrans Farm to the teams working behind the scenes at the Mossel Bay Factory, there is great care taken at every step to help deliver quality milk to South African families. This is our promise to parents and caregivers across the country,” she said.
That commitment extends beyond the farm gate. The production chain supporting NESPRAY represents a broader ecosystem of jobs, food production expertise and local economic participation.
The Mossel Bay dairy farms and production facilities collectively employ more than 1 000 people while supporting over 13 000 individuals connected to the local economy.
Supporting Growing Children
Milk remains an important source of nutrition for school-going children, particularly during key developmental years. NESPRAY has positioned itself around supporting this stage of growth through formulations aimed at children between the ages of 7 and 14.
The product contains 10 vitamins alongside iron and zinc, nutrients associated with overall growth and development during childhood.
Jean Higgs emphasised the importance of maintaining both freshness and quality through local sourcing practices.
“Sourcing milk locally guarantees that the milk we use to make NESTLÉ NESPRAY is as fresh as possible. This enables us to guarantee that the milk satisfies our exacting requirements for safety and quality,” Higgs explained.
Sustainability Beyond the Label
Globally, World Milk Day has evolved into a broader discussion about sustainability, responsible sourcing and long-term food security. For NESPRAY, that conversation increasingly includes how dairy production can contribute positively to communities while remaining mindful of environmental impact.
The brand says its focus includes responsible sourcing practices, careful resource management and supporting long-term sustainability within South Africa’s dairy sector.
More importantly, the initiative seeks to encourage consumers to become more curious about where their food comes from and how it is produced.
Through an ongoing social media campaign encouraging families to “Ask the good questions,” NESPRAY aims to create greater awareness around food origins, farming practices and the journey behind everyday household products.
Because sometimes, understanding the story behind what is inside the glass makes every sip feel more meaningful.
For more information, visit Family NES – NESPRAY
