NEWMARKET, Ont. - Renegade dairy farmer Michael Schmidt showed up at court Monday surrounded by dozens of supporters and armed with everything he needed to defend himself against 20 charges related to selling raw, unpasteurized milk.

By his feet were well-worn milk crates overflowing with dozens of thick binders and notes, and tucked out of sight was a little motivational treat for the recess break: a mason jar filled with raw milk, which he quaffed as he refuelled for an afternoon of arguments.

A few dozen of Schmidt's customers and supporters filled the courtroom, and about 20 others lingered outside as the trial began for the infamous milk man, who was charged after an armed raid by about two dozen officers and government officials at his farm in Durham, Ont., in 2006.

The Crown plans to present evidence of a clandestine, undercover investigation into the illegal sale of dangerous substances stored on the farm.

Those illicit products were raw milk as well as cream, cheese and other items made from the milk, and the Crown will detail how undercover agents purchased them from Schmidt.

Schmidt was defiant in countering suggestions that raw milk is considered too dangerous for consumption and said he's defending everyone's right to drink it.

"The only thing that will stop me is if we -- through a constructive dialogue -- actually find out that milk might be dangerous," he said outside court. "And I can guarantee it is not."

In his opening statement, Schmidt said the core issue is not just about milk but the "respect to (which) the individual's freedom has been lost or wilfully ignored."

While raw milk is legal to drink, it's illegal to sell in Canada. Schmidt has been charged with selling raw milk to about 150 customers.

In light of the law, Schmidt established a so-called cow share program in which customers pay to have partial ownership of a cow and are then given access to some of its milk.

Raw milk has been proven safe over generations despite Health Canada's warnings, Schmidt said, adding he's against conventional thinking that food "will kill us unless we process it to death."

Schmidt's first legal manoeuvre in court Monday was unsuccessful. He challenged the admissibility of evidence collected during the raid on his farm based on an error with the search warrant.

But he appeared confident while cross-examining Crown witnesses with a folksy, informal charm and drew giggles from the courtroom when he said "nice to see you again" to the officers who raided his farm.

He also launched several successful objections during Crown questioning of witnesses and was told by justice of the peace Paul Kowarsky that he'd be led down the right path during the trial, which is expected to last about seven days.

Although things didn't go entirely his way on the first day, Schmidt said he was emboldened that he'll have grounds for appeal if he's found guilty.

"They just want to go through and prosecute as quickly as possible," he said outside court. "That became very clear in our proceedings.

"Looking at the issues, the whole thing moves toward an appeal."

He also gave notice that he plans to file a charter challenge based on police actions and violations of his right to liberty.

Among Schmidt's supporters at court was one of his customers, Olga Shibanova, and her three children.

"We're here to help our farmer Michael because we cannot have healthy children without him," said Shibanova, who grew up drinking raw milk in her native Russia.

"If he needs help at the farm, we will go to the farm and help. If he needs help driving the bus, people will drive the bus -- anything he needs."

Shibanova said she has no fear about the health risks associated with drinking raw milk and is more wary of mass-produced food.

"You don't even know what's in the box," she said. "It tastes weird, the milk in the store.

"I have no worries at all (about raw milk). It's the best food."