Garelick Farms, former Fairdale Farms, to close its doors

12:00AM / Wednesday, May 01, 2002Print Story | Email Story

In yet another example of corporate consolidation affecting smaller towns, the former Fairdale Farms dairy plant in Bennington, Vt., will be closing at the end of June, officials announced April 19. Now called Garelick Farms of Vermont, the milk processing plant, which currently employs 125 workers, has long been a staple on the west side of town along Route 9. Over the years, it offered visitors young and old an inside look at the commercial dairy industry, giving tours to school children and others interested in seeing dairying firsthand. Its red barn also sold old-fashioned ice cream cones and confections, and the adjacent property offered a bucolic setting to spend an afternoon. New owner Dean Foods, a Dallas-Tex.-based company that now controls some three-quarters of all milk sold in the Northeast, said the move was a part of its ongoing efforts to consolidate its considerable holding of milk processing plants. The Bennington operation will move to a larger facility in East Greenbush, N.Y., about 40 miles west. Dean Foods plans to spend $4 million upgrading the East Greenbush plant, and will increase production there by 25 percent. They added that the New York site was more conveniently located near interstate highways and larger population centers. Employees at the Bennington plant earn anywhere from $25,000 to more than $55,000 a year. About half of those employees have been offered transfers to work in the East Greenbush plant; the others will be given severance packages and help on their job search. Many of the workers at the plant have been employed there for more than 10 years. According to Gary Warren, general manager of both the Bennington and East Greenbush plants, "We decided to merge the two milk processing operations and upgrade the East Greenbush plant to improve our operations and better serve our customers." Warren continued, in the statement, that "Our Vermont plant is in a residential neighborhood in a historic section of town, and understandably, it is not well suited for expansion." Warren said the company plans to continue to buy milk from its current suppliers, a group of farms within a 70-mile radius of the East Greenbush plant. He said the move was the right thing to do for consumers, to keep prices down. The recently passed 2002 Farm Bill has included a provision that will essentially continue the Northeast Dairy Compact â€” which sets a minimum price for raw milk from dairy farms â€” but will include all 50 states. At the end of June the 23-acre facility, located along Route 9, will be left with a refrigerated warehouse and offices. Dean Foods is considering donating the property to the Bennington County Industrial Corporation (BCIC), to be used for some unspecified operation. The nonprofit BCIC is the countyâ€™s business stimulator, which already hosts business incubator space at it North Bennington headquarters. BCIC Executive Director Lance Matteson said Tuesday that "we're having some very positive talks right now [between BCIC and Dean Foods]," but said it was too early to elaborate on any future plans for the site. â€œObviously, weâ€™re very disappointed with the move,â€ said Matteson. â€œWe knew they were going to be expanding, but we had hoped they would stay here.â€ The Fairdale Farms began operation in 1946 as a family-run dairy farm, owned by the Holden family, whose descendants still live nearby and continue farming, on a smaller scale. The farm was sold to Garelick Farms several years ago, which was a subsidiary of Cumberland Farms. Dean Foods is the countryâ€™s largest processor and distributor of retail milk products, according to the companyâ€™s web page. It also carries a line of specialty foods, some under familiar names such as Hershey, Borden and Land Oâ€™ Lakes. Formerly the Suiza Foods Corporation, the Texas company changed its name after a December 2001 merger with the Chicago-based Dean Foods, a major dairy processor in the Midwest. Dean Foods bought out Cumberland Farms, which had owned several milk processing plants in New England, all under the name Garelick Farms.

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Weekend Outlook: Hopping Good Fun

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:32PM / Thursday, April 02, 2026

Check out the events happening this weekend including First Friday, Easter events, music series, and more.

Check out our list of Easter egg hunts in the county for the family as well.

Editor's Pick

First Friday
Downtown North Adams
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.

Spring is here so kick it off with music, art, and games that will fill downtown North Adams for its First Friday event, themed "Clean and Green."

Participating businesses will have extended hours and many galleries will host openings, closings, and other special events.

More information and event line-up here.

Multiple Days

Adaptive Cultural Kitchen Clubs
65 Depot St., Dalton
Every Saturday in April from 12-1 p.m.

Bring your kids ages 5 to 9 to learn cooking with these hands-on lessons to build kitchen confidence and make snacks. To register contact BCArc Family Support at jmiddleton@bcarc.org or 413-464-7262, Ext. 119, or or Rania at rania@familieslikeoursinc.com or 413-854-3971

More information here.

Easter Rock Hunt at The Glen
Greylock Glen, Adams
April 4-12

Hike at the Greylock Glen and try to find as many painted rocks as you can on the Meadow Loop Trail.

More information here.

Friday

Paint and Snack Teen Programming
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 1 p.m.

Enjoy snacks and soda and get creative with paint. For more information call the Youth Services Department: 413-499-9480, Ext. 203 or youngadult@pittsfieldlibrary.org.

More information here.

Sunset Beaver Watch
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox
Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m.

NOTE: This event is full but you can sign the waitlist. More information here.

See the sanctuary's beavers in action. Hike about two miles to get a glimpse of what they do when they harvest trees.

Lilly of the Valley Bluegrass Solo
The Tap Room, Lanesborough
Time: 8 p.m.

Enjoy live music and food this Friday night. Bring your dancing shoes and enjoy bluegrass music.

More information here.

Saturday

Pancake Fun Run and Egg Hunt
Allendale Shopping Center, Pittsfield
Time: 8:45 a.m.

Join the Berkshire Running Center for its first pancake fun run and pickup surprises from the Easter Bunny along the way.

More information here.

Easter Bunny Hop Train
Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, Adams
Departure Times: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.

The Easter Bunny will hop onto the Hoosac Valley Train to greet families and give out colored eggs.

Tickets in coach range from $4 to $22; first class ranges from $4 to $37. A first-class table, which includes seats for four, is $127.20.

More information and tickets here.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
Shire Tavern, Dalton
Time: 8 to 11 a.m.

Includes a breakfast buffet and picture opportunities with the Easter Bunny. All of the proceeds go to benefit Strong Little Souls, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting families affected by pediatric cancer.

More information and tickets here.

Hop on Over and Celebrate with Us
North Adams Commons
Time: 2 p.m.

Join the nursing and rehabilitation facility to celebrate Easter with photo ops with the bunny, sweet treats, and gifts.

More information here.

North Adams Farmers Market

Hotel Downstreet, North Adams

Time: 9 to 1

Winter market runs the first Saturday of the month through May 1. Makers on Main will be operating next to the market with local artists and crafters.

More information on the makers here and the farmers market here.

Bennington Museum Reopening

Bennington, Vt.

Time: 10 to 4

The Bennington Museum reopens to the public with the annual student art show, hands-on activities, a reception, music, dance and the opening of the new Folk and Craft Gallery on the first floor. The Battle of Bennington exhibit will also be on display. The Antiques Appraisal Fair runs from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Paresky Education Center.

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