Local Producer Profile: A South County Dairy Keeps a Family Tradition Alive

A fourth-generation dairy farm in South Kingstown has adapted to the shrinking margins facing small dairy operations nationally by shifting a portion of its business toward direct-to-consumer sales, including a farm store and delivery route serving several South County towns.

The family that runs the farm says the shift began gradually, first with a small farm stand, then expanding into value-added products like yogurt and cheese that carry better margins than raw milk sold through traditional wholesale channels.

Adapting to Survive

Farm operators describe the transition as necessary rather than purely aspirational, noting that wholesale milk prices have made the traditional dairy model increasingly difficult for small operations to sustain without diversifying revenue streams.

The farm now hosts seasonal visitors and school groups, a secondary revenue stream that has become increasingly important to the operation's overall finances.