Conventional Route Driver

The closures of four dairy plants lead to worry in Vermont. Dairy Farmers of America's decision to shutter a St. Albans plant is just the latest setback for the state's $5.4 billion sector. A series of unexpected closures of milk-processing plants in recent months has shaken farmers and Vermont leaders. They worry that the sudden loss of local production capacity could damage the state's vital but fragile dairy industry, a $5.4 billion sector. "While we've had a steady decline in the number of dairy farms, we've not seen such a precipitous decline in processors like this for a long while," said state Rep. John O'Brien (D-Tunbridge), a member of the Vermont Milk Commission, which recommends ways to support the dairy industry. The HP Hood plant in Barre, which bottled milk under the Booth Bros. label, closed in April; 70 workers lost their jobs. In May, Dublin-based Perrigo announced plans to lay off 161 workers as it moves to close the Georgia plant where it makes infant formula by the end of 2027. In early June, the German owner of Franklin Foods said it would shutter the cream cheese plant in Enosburg Falls where 100 people worked. A new owner plans to open a smaller operation there. Finally, a week after that announcement, Kansas-based Dairy Farmers of America said it would lay off 81 people and "idle" the St. Albans Creamery, which it acquired in a 2019 merger with the local co-op that had operated in Vermont for more than 100 years. The creamery, known as a balancing plant, turned local milk into a variety of dairy products, including cream that was sold to the Ben & Jerry's ice cream plant across town. The co-op has agreed not to dismantle the plant while it arbitrates a claim by the Teamsters union that the closure was retaliation for a strike last year.

Vermont abruptly loses another factory as dairy industry rapidly spirals. The dairy industry has had a rough 2025...and unfortunately, the impacts are being felt locally across Vermont. It's no wonder that yet another Vermont dairy factory is throwing in the towel. More specifically, Vermont is losing a long-standing piece of its dairy heritage as a major milk bottling facility prepares to shut down, leaving dozens of workers without jobs and ending nearly eight decades of operation. HP Hood has confirmed it will close the Booth Brothers dairy plant in Barre, a move that will eliminate around 50 positions when production winds down in the coming months ths. The facility has been a staple of Vermont's milk industry for decades, bottling and distributing dairy products across New England. The shutdown reflects growing pressure across the region's dairy and food-processing sectors. Rising energy costs, packaging expenses, and shifting trade dynamics have made it increasingly difficult for mid-sized processors to stay competitive. Many companies are consolidating production into fewer plants to control costs and adjust to uneven demand. For Barre, the loss runs deep. The Booth Brothers plant has been a consistent employer and economic anchor for the area. Its closure means more than just the loss of fifty paychecks - it affects local haulers, maintenance contractors, and suppliers tied to the plant's daily operations. Vermont has seen similar challenges throughout its agricultural economy. Dairy farmers have struggled with volatile milk prices, higher feed costs, and changing market structures. The closure of one of the state's remaining bottling operations underscores how fragile the supply chain has become from farm to shelf. Unfortunately, the bottom line here is another Vermont dairy plant gone - and fifty livelihoods lost as the state's once-steady milk industry continues to feel the squeeze of rising costs and global market shifts. Coconut flour ebook. Learn the basics of baking grain free with my free ebook!