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 — which sets a minimum price for raw milk from dairy farms — 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 county’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.
“Obviously, we’re very disappointed with the move,†said Matteson. “We 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 country’s largest processor and distributor of retail milk products, according to the company’s web page. It also carries a line of specialty foods, some under familiar names such as Hershey, Borden and Land O’ 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.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
click for more
