The Bennett family — for a long time the “First Family” of Maine Dairy, and well known for challenging Big Ag interests by insisting on labeling their milk as being produced without growth hormones — have now decided to transfer their company to Dairy Farmers of America, a cooperative processor. Oakhurst currently contracts with 70 Maine dairy farms for it’s milk. DFA is owned by roughly 8000 dairy farms across the continental US, and has purchased milk from many Maine dairy farms even before the Oakhurst acquisition. At this time DFA has indicated that the Oakhurst brand will be maintained in its New England sales region. The Bennett family members who have worked at the company were expected to stay on, and no employee reductions were anticipated elsewhere in the company.
Author Archives: President
2014 Workshop Scholarships
The Guild has decided to offer two scholarships to each of our upcoming intermediate/advanced workshops —
- Fundamental Affinage with Michael Kalish (March 28-29, 2014)
- Mastering Artisan Cheese Making with Gianaclis Caldwell (April 26-27, 2014)
that would reimburse the scholarship winners for HALF the cost of the workshop fee.
Anyone interested in receiving a scholarship will need to be a member in good standing of the Maine Cheese Guild and should send their contact information, plus a paragraph describing your operation and why you deserve a scholarship to info@mainecheeseguild.com/MCG-build by February 1st. Submissions will be reviewed and voted upon by the MCG board, and scholarship winners will be announced by February 15th when winners, as well as runner-ups (in case the winner backs out) will be notified. Winners will then need to send in their half-tuition to the Guild Treasurer
Meeting: Monday, Feb 17th in Winthrop
The Guild met at Wholesome Holmstead Farm in Winthrop on February 17th between 10am and 2pm.
After a tour of the cheese retail and production facility, followed by a tour of the dairy barn, milking parlor, and milk room, Jessica Nixon and John Harker discussed various State efforts to help Maine farms better market themselves, as well as for consumers to find specific farm products.
Thank you to the Whole Trenholm family for hosting us!