For generations, the St. Albans milk processing plant and its adjoining creamery have been the beating heart of Franklin County’s dairy economy. But on a quiet Wednesday morning, with just 15 minutes of warning, that heart stopped.
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) announced the effective closure of the historic Vermont facility, idling day-to-day operations and putting roughly 80 employees out of work. The sudden decision marks another devastating blow to a regional industry that feels like it is in a state of freefall.
“They’re upset. They’re angry,” said Curtis Clough, a union organizer representing the plant’s workers. “They feel like they have supported DFA through the hard times, like Covid and DFA is turning around and abandoning them.”
The workers had recently negotiated a new contract in October 2025 after enduring what they described as brutal, 12-hour mandatory overtime shifts. While DFA stressed that the closure was part of broader operational changes and not a reflection of the workforce, the sting remains the same. Come August 17, the plant will effectively shut its doors, maintaining only a skeleton crew as DFA evaluates the facility’s future.
“We know this news is difficult for our employees, their families, and the broader Vermont community. We recognize the deep local connections to these operations. DFA will continue to support Vermont through Northeast Logistics and our farmer-owners,” DFA shared in a statement to Dairy Herd Management.
A Region Under Siege
The shuttering in St. Albans is not an isolated incident; it is the latest domino to fall in a cascading crisis for New England dairy.
Franklin County, a region heavily built around the dairy industry, has been battered by recent closures. Earlier this month, Franklin Foods laid off nearly 100 workers. In May, Perrigo announced it would shed 161 jobs. And last fall, HP Hood closed its Barre plant, cutting another 50 jobs.
“We knew something’s been going on in the milk industry,” Clough noted, adding that union leaders had reached out to state officials months in advance as warning signs flashed.
Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Anson Tebbetts, echoed the sentiment, acknowledging a shifting landscape in the processing sector that extends beyond Vermont’s borders. The state has convened economic development teams to explore repurposing these shuttered plants, but for local farmers and workers, those long-term discussions offer little immediate comfort.
The Ripple Effect
The closure threatens to sever vital supply chains, as the St. Albans plant has long processed milk for iconic Vermont brands like Ben & Jerry’s and Cabot Creamery.
“Both the plant and store have been foundational parts of the St. Albans community for generations. We know this news is difficult for our employees, their families, and the broader Vermont community. We recognize the deep local connections to these operations. DFA will continue to support Vermont through Northeast Logistics and our farmer-owners. Milk currently received at the St. Albans facility will continue to be processed within DFA’s network, ensuring a market for regional dairy farmers and continued service to customers without disruption. Additionally, local farmers will continue to have access to products and services previously provided by St. Albans Creamery & Supply through DFA’s direct-ship model,” DFA shared with Dairy Herd Management in a statement.
DFA, however, maintains that the move is a necessary evolution. “This was not a decision made lightly,” the cooperative stated. “Both the plant and store have been foundational parts of the St. Albans community for generations... [but this] reflects broader operational and network changes needed to best serve our farmer-owners and customers.”
As August 17 approaches, 80 workers are left holding severance packages instead of paychecks, and Franklin County is left to wonder how much more of its dairy heritage it can afford to lose.
