Oakhurst Dairy
Encyclopedia
Oakhurst Dairy is a company in the dairy industry
that sells mostly milk products, as well as juices. It was founded in 1921, and is headquartered in Portland, Maine
.
During its early years, Oakhurst focused on providing milk of higher quality than competing firms, and frequently inspected conditions at its farms and processing facilities. In 1933, Oakhurst began testing its milk for tuberculin
, the first dairy in the US to do so.
By the 1940s, Oakhurst increasingly expanded its business of selling milk wholesale, to organizations such as IGA
, A&P
, regional schools and the Maine General Hospital. In 1941, Oakhurst came under the complete control of the Bennett family, who by that time owned all the company's stock. In 1954, Oakhurst completed an expansion of its processing plant, allowing it to produce up to 40,000 quarts of milk a day, a three-fold increase over its previous capacity.
In 1976, the company ended home delivery of milk, citing their inability to make a profit on the operation due to increasing costs. In 1977, Oakhurst bought Sanford Dairy, the first of several acquisitions of smaller dairies in the 1970s and 80s. In 1988, the company was faced with an antitrust lawsuit from Fitzpatrick Dairy, one such smaller company. In 1990, Oakhurst was ordered to pay $1.9 million to the Fitzpatrick's former owner.
In 2003, Oakhurst was faced with a lawsuit from Monsanto
over Oakhurst's label on its milk cartons that said "Our farmer's pledge: no artificial hormones," referring to the use of bovine somatotropin
(rBST), a drug that increases milk production and that Monsanto sells. Monsanto argued that the label implied that Oakhurst milk was superior to milk from cows treated with rBST, which harmed Monsanto's business. The two companies settled out of court, and it was announced that Oakhurst would add the word "used" at the end of its label, and note that the US FDA
claims there is no major difference between milk from rBST-treated and non rBST-treated cows.
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
that sells mostly milk products, as well as juices. It was founded in 1921, and is headquartered in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
.
History
The company's earliest predecessor was a dairy farm founded in 1902 by Arthur Leadbetter, located in Portland. The name was changed to Oakhurst in 1918, and in 1921 Stanley Bennett, who had been employed to manage the operation in 1920, bought the farm with financing from a local businessman, Nathan Cushman. At the time, Oakhurst delivered its milk via horse-drawn wagons over two routes. By 1923, the company had expanded to deliver milk over twelve routes and in 1929 there were 28 routes, including two dedicated to selling milk wholesale.During its early years, Oakhurst focused on providing milk of higher quality than competing firms, and frequently inspected conditions at its farms and processing facilities. In 1933, Oakhurst began testing its milk for tuberculin
Tuberculin
Tuberculin is the name given to extracts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, or M. avium that is used in skin testing in animals and humans to identify a tuberculosis infection. Several types of tuberculin have been used for this, of which purified protein derivative is the most important....
, the first dairy in the US to do so.
By the 1940s, Oakhurst increasingly expanded its business of selling milk wholesale, to organizations such as IGA
IGA (supermarkets)
IGA is a brand of grocery stores active in more than 30 countries. Contrasting with the chain store business model, IGA operates as a franchise through stores that are owned separately from the brand. Many of these stores operate in small town markets and belong to families that manage them...
, A&P
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
, regional schools and the Maine General Hospital. In 1941, Oakhurst came under the complete control of the Bennett family, who by that time owned all the company's stock. In 1954, Oakhurst completed an expansion of its processing plant, allowing it to produce up to 40,000 quarts of milk a day, a three-fold increase over its previous capacity.
In 1976, the company ended home delivery of milk, citing their inability to make a profit on the operation due to increasing costs. In 1977, Oakhurst bought Sanford Dairy, the first of several acquisitions of smaller dairies in the 1970s and 80s. In 1988, the company was faced with an antitrust lawsuit from Fitzpatrick Dairy, one such smaller company. In 1990, Oakhurst was ordered to pay $1.9 million to the Fitzpatrick's former owner.
In 2003, Oakhurst was faced with a lawsuit from Monsanto
Monsanto
The Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
over Oakhurst's label on its milk cartons that said "Our farmer's pledge: no artificial hormones," referring to the use of bovine somatotropin
Bovine somatotropin
Bovine somatotropin , or BGH, is a chain of amino acids produced by the cow's pituitary gland. Like other hormones, it is produced in small quantities and is used in regulating metabolic processes...
(rBST), a drug that increases milk production and that Monsanto sells. Monsanto argued that the label implied that Oakhurst milk was superior to milk from cows treated with rBST, which harmed Monsanto's business. The two companies settled out of court, and it was announced that Oakhurst would add the word "used" at the end of its label, and note that the US FDA
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
claims there is no major difference between milk from rBST-treated and non rBST-treated cows.