—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 27, 1976 16 Sealtest closing ‘no problem’ By DIETER KRIEG COCKEYSVILLE, Md. - The significance of the Sealtest plant closing in Philadelphia later this year is that “it represents one more step by Sealtest to reduce their position in the fluid milk market,” says Ralph Strock, general manager of Maryland Cooperative Milk Producers. He notes that the dairy foods giant is practically out of New York City, and out of Pittsburgh and Cleveland and Washington. Right now, the only sub stantial Sealtest plant left in the East is this one here in Baltimore, Strock said. How much of the milk which had been bottled in the Philadelphia plant is likely to go to Baltimore for bot tling when tiie plant in the Quaker City is closed this summer is unknown. That plant (Baltimore) has in the past received some of its milk from MCMP but the bulk came from non-co-op producers. It is expected, however, that Sealtest’s position in Philadelphia will be weakened. Strode says he does not believe that the dosing of the Sealtest plant in Philadelphia will affect producer prices. The milk will just simply be bottled elsewhere, and if this con tinues to be done within the Meet our [Continued from Page 1] came to be a farm reporter. Although she and her husband are not in the business now, neither is a stranger to farming. She was raised on her uncle’s 250 acre dairy farm where she tended chickens, helped with the milking and planting, and drove a tractor well enough to pull a hay rope. (She hasn’t been able to find out whether anyone still lifts hay and straw into the bam loft with a rope and forks, but her uncle who worked the forks always said it took a good driver on the other end to handle that rope.) Stan lived and worked five years on a large truck farm operation where he was involved with produce from planting to marketing and also helped with the hog raising and butchering. The couple discussed going into fanning in the early years of their marriage, but they unfortunately came of age when farming was a dying business in their area and land was so high that it was impossible for a young couple to buy a farm. Her farm background left Judy with a zest for growing things which she exercises on an ever increasing number of houseplants and a summer flower garden, which she regrets is a much smaller version of the one she remembers on the farm. But space for flowers is limited, she points out, by her husband’s energetic gardening habits. Vegetables are his line and considering their “home garden” in New Jersey which took up about a half acre of land, Judy is sure that their garden in Stony Run will eventually replace most of the grass in their big side yard. Freeburn Love of Eastern Milk Producers says Sealtest ! s closing in Philadelphia will not affect his producers. Mid-Atlantic Marketing Order, then prices will not be affected. “Producers in Order 4 will continue to enjoy those Class I sales,” the executive said. According to Strock, Sealtest is going out of fluid milk because many chain stores have put up their own bottling plants and the competition has - therefore become rather stiff. It’s a trend that has been oc curring all over the country. The problem which Strock sees as a result of this is “how can little dealers stay in business when they’re having to work with what little milk is left over after Berks correspondent In addition to being a reporter and parttime student at Kutztown State College, Judy enjoys sewing and handcrafts. She admits that her new job limits the time she has to spend on those activities now, but she likes the work and the people she meets. In the short time SHOTZBERGER’S EQUIP. a XING STOCK TRAILERS HOT-TO-TROT HORSEWALKERS You’ll Never Do Better Than A THE DEPENDABLE WALKER. big bottlers are done buying?” Inter-State Milk Producers of Philadelphia may be more directly involved with the Sealtest closing, but they anticipate no problems either. “It appeared like a big decision,” said Or. James Honan, Inter-State’s general manager, “but it didn’t make a ripple in the market.” He adds that none is expected and that his cooperative has things well under control. Eastern Milk Producers Cooperative, which handles approximately half of the milk which goes into the Philadelphia Sealtest plant, does not expect any problems either. Freeburn fO) i "-sic 7WE - &USV&OPV I REFUSES 75 A? I NOTHING WHEN 1 yUERE IS I nothing to 1 pa she’s been with the paper, she has found that a lot has changed in the years since she lived on a farm, and agriculture has become a sophisticated business. But she adds that it is obvious that farm people haven’t changed - most are as friendly and helpful as she remembers them to be. ELM, PA. 17521 717-665-2141 now offers & DIAMOND - ALSO - Love of that cooperative says other outlets will be found for that milk and some, can be absorbed at their Chambersburg manufac turing plant. According to a news story in the Philadelphia Bulletin, Sealtest will continue to stay in the manufactured dairy products category. The Philadelphia paper’s ac count quotes Sealtest’s general manager, Richard YOUR ANSWER FDR A 10 TO 20% ASK FOR DEMONSTRATION ON BOU-MATIC MILKING A milking system for any size herd programmed for top results. 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Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers