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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 J U LY 1 3 , 2 0 2 0 A U G U S TA / WAT E R V I L L E / C E N T R A L M A I N E F O C U S Still, she adds, that's far fewer closings than the industry might have expected. at's partly thanks to Maine's pro- cessing plants and their 100% utiliza- tion of Maine milk. Also, increased fluid demand has stabilized that por- tion of the market. "We hope it continues, because it will shore up the financial future for the processing plants, which will have a spinoff positive effect for our farm- ers," Bickford says. Stabilization? "It has been pretty disruptive," says John Bennett, president of Oakhurst Dairy in Portland, says of the pandemic's impact on the industry. "But I think we've reached a little bit of stabilization." Oakhurst, started by Bennett's grand- father a century ago and now owned by Dairy Farmers of America, is one of Maine's four fluid milk-processing plants (the others are Portland's H. P. Hood, Houlton Farms Dairy and Smiling Hill Farms). Oakhurst pro- cesses roughly 500,000 gallons per week — about 25 million gallons per year. Ice cream is an example of shift- ing market dynamics, Bennett notes. As consumers stocked up on key food items, distributors worked to keep milk on supermarket shelves. Ice cream took a back seat. "It's not a critical item," says Bennett. For a while, sales of cream and mixes used to make ice cream slowed consider- ably. It's turning around now. Ice cream is back on the delivery trucks. "Nothing's come around completely to the way it was, but we're seeing it come back up," he says. Despite shifting dynamics, Oakhurst's production numbers and workforce of just under 200 remained stable through the pandemic. "Maine is a good place to be a dairy farmer, I think, relatively speak- ing," Bennett says. "I haven't seen any drop-off because of the pandemic. But I think there's uncertainty. People are wondering if the market is still secure. I think it is. We have demand for that milk and for the byproducts." Still, DiMento wonders what the future holds. "In the fall, when school comes into session, business usually picks up," DiMento says. "Will that happen this year? We don't know. How will that affect our business? We don't know. is is a new world, with the pandemic. We'll all have to adapt and change as needed to get through this." Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz PUBLISHED JULY 27 2020 Mainebiz Fact Book! Learn about the resources and stats of doing business in Maine SP ONSORED BY Order yours at mainebiz.biz/factbook or call 845.267.3008 For companies who are looking to relocate to Maine or do business in Maine, the Fact Book is a great resource on Maine's market statistics and facts. This year, Mainebiz is expanding the information we provide to give company owners and senior managers the facts they need to do business in Maine. As we celebrate Maine's bicentennial we will be featuring some additional information. Profiles on some of Maine's iconic brands 200 ideas, innovations, and products developed in Maine over the last 200 years Q&A with the leaders of some of Maine's oldest companies The only publication with expanded distribution outside of Maine for companies who may consider making Maine home. A two-day virtual forum for entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses. Join us as we bring together Maine's best professionals to share their expertise, insight, knowledge, and experience on a variety of topics that business owners and managers need to know. The Small Business Virtual Forum LEARN MORE AT MAINEBIZ.BIZ/SMALLBIZ20 REGISTRATION OPENS SOON SP ONSORED BY Join us August 18 & 19

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