Cartons of Rhody Fresh milk in a cooler at McQuade’s Marketplace in Jamestown.

The Providence Journal Andrew Dickerman

The Rhode Island Dairy Farms Cooperative, which sells locally produced milk under the Rhody Fresh brand, is adding four new local dairy farms to its membership, bringing the total to nine.

In a news release, cooperative executive director James Hines said sales volume has increased enough for the cooperative to add new members.

In a telephone interview this week, Steve Volpe, assistant executive director for the cooperative, said sales of Rhody Fresh have increased by 40 percent in the last few years, and now exceed $1 million per year. He declined to give more exact numbers.

The new farms are: EMMA Acres in Exeter; Elmrock Farm in Ashaway; Breene Hollow Farm in West Greenwich; and the Bailey Brook Farm in East Greenwich.

Rhody Fresh is sold at a number of area supermarkets, including Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, Whole Foods, Dave’s Marketplace and the East Side Market. Volpe said sales are also helped by local colleges, including Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design, Roger Williams University and Providence College, which stock the milk in their cafeterias.

Rhody Fresh is generally more expensive than other brands of milk, although exact pricing depends on where it’s sold. At the Shaw’s market at 320 Warwick Ave., a half-gallon of milk from regional dairy company Garelik Farms, which is owned by Dean Foods Co. of Dallas, sold Wednesday for $2.29, compared with $2.99 for a half gallon of Rhody Fresh. Volpe said he did not anticipate any price changes for Rhody Fresh as the new producers come on board.

He said buying Rhody Fresh, which is produced without using artificial growth hormones, supports local agriculture and helps preserve open space in the state.

The Dairy Cooperative began selling Rhody Fresh five years ago, helped by a $125,000 loan from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, which has since been repaid.

In the dairy cooperative’s statement, Hines said there are currently 16 dairy farms in the state. Over the next five years, he said, the cooperative hopes to expand into other dairy products and invite all 16 of those farms to join the organization.

On June 11 at 11 a.m., the Rhode Island Dairy Farms Cooperation will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Rhody Fresh with a celebration at the Cottrell Homestead Dairy Farm in West Kingston. The event is open to the public. Governor Carcieri and J.Michael Saul, interim executive director of the EDC, are scheduled to attend.

asmith@projo.com