WASHINGTON — Bringing back the milkman? Yeah, at least for now!
Milk and dairy deliveries have been up in the United States and in other parts of the world amid people staying inside during the COVID-19 pandemic. Skipping on-the-go breakfast selections due to the work from home life many have faced in 2020.
According to The Wall Street Journal, dairies in the U.S. that once got rid of home milk deliveries have started back up doing so due to the pandemic. It comes as normal deliveries to schools, restaurants and other businesses stopped when things shut down, changing their business model.
DMV farms and businesses have even entered the milk delivery business.
NPR did a report about Southern Mountain Creamery in Frederick County, Maryland, who was delivering to almost 10,000 homes in April 2020, at the height of the pandemic.
U.S. milk sales have been in free fall for decades as choices grew and consumers turned to soda, juices and plant-based alternatives like soy milk. Dean Foods, the nation’s biggest milk producer, filed for bankruptcy protection in November. Borden Dairy, another major producer, followed with its own bankruptcy in January.
But then came the coronavirus pandemic, and milk sales saw a sharp rise. Kids who were no longer having meals at school were drinking milk at home. Adults — no longer commuting — had time for a leisurely bowl of cereal. Many people were buying milk to bake and cook at home.
Six years after the popular tagline was retired, “Got milk?” ads are back following a dairy sales boost in recent months. A dairy industry-funded group is reviving the campaign, hoping to prolong the boost milk has gotten during the pandemic.
Here is a look at some businesses and farms that are delivering dairy products in the DMV area:
