Hastings Creamery Closes Its Doors, Leaving Producers Without a Milk Market
On Friday, Hastings Creamery in Hastings, Minn., closed its doors, leaving Midwest dairy farmers without a market for their milk. Lucas Sjostrom, the executive director of Minnesota Milk, shared there is no bright light for these patrons, as he confirmed the news and also confirmed that many producers want to be paid for their last milk check and haven’t.
“The only bright light I see is a terrible one of high beef prices,” Sjostrom said.
In early June, Sjostrom shared that Hastings Creamery ceased operations for at least 30 days, leaving 45 farms to find a new home for their milk.
“We’ve been working over the past few weeks with the farmers to find alternative markets while government officials have been looking to find a solution to keep the plant open,” Sjostrom stated on June 7. “We believe every milk buyer across the Upper Midwest is aware of the situation.”
Hastings Creamery processes 150,000 lbs. of raw milk each day and purchases it from dairy farmers located in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. A variety of dairy products are under Hastings Creamery label, as well as some private labels for other companies and grocery store chains.
Justin Malone, one of the creamery’s owners, shared back in June that it is a tough time in the dairy industry and some farmers are forced to dump milk because they can’t find any processing plants with the capacity to accept additional milk.
In June, the Metropolitan Council cut off sewer service to the creamery after it leaked thousands of gallons of milk and cream into the city of Hastings’ sewer system, resulting in several permit violations.
In a statement, the Met Council said it spent several months working with the creamery, the city of Hastings and the state departments of labor and industry and agriculture to find a solution that supports local milk producers while protecting the community’s water supply.
“The Hastings Creamery is an important asset to the region, and we are committed to partnering on any future resolutions that supports the Creamery and the safety of the Hastings community,” the statement read.
