Glass-Bottled Milk Remains Tradition At Oley Dairy
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
OLE Y (Berks Co.) —Years ago
milk delivery trucks made their
way into the winding roads of resi
dent neighborhoods.
Today, instead, people from a
nearby community take turns mak
ing the rounds, picking up the
trademark glass bottles and com
ing into the Oley Turnpike Dairy
store to receive fresh bottles of
milk.
To the neighbors who collect
glass jugs for friends in the nearby
towns of Boyertown, Birdsboro,
Exeter, Oley, Douglasville, and
Jacksonwaid, Oley Turnpike
Dairy is home to what consider the
best product glass-bottled milk
fresh from the farm.
Neighbors know what to expect
from the dairy, located on the Oley
Turnpike Road. Ice cream is made
and named all 51 flavors.
It’s the same for deli treats. Ask
anyone who has ever sampled
“The Silo,” “The Udder,” ‘The
Plow,” or “The Tractor.” The dairy
store owes its rich heritage to the
people of the Oley Valley.
Thomas Rose, a partner in the
family business who is in charge of
the ice cream parlor, noted some of
the challenges of taking over a
family business going back 28
years.
pike Dairy parlor. Serves choco,ate marshmallow Ice cream from the Oley Turn-
The dairy packages ns own Ice cream. Here, Thomas Rose inspects the milk tank.
‘The owners who decided to get
out of the dairy store business sold
us a very valuable enterprise,” said
Rose. The prior owners, Eugene
and Darlene Moser, decided to
give up the dairy store. Eugene still
farms and Darlene takes care of
their antique business.
David Reichert, brother-in-law
to Thomas Rose, rents the bam and
owns the cows of the original dairy
that supplies milk to the store. The
farm encompasses about 425 acres
and is comprised of 52 Holsteins,
including registered and grade.
About 80,000 pounds of milk per
month are used by the dairy store.
But the farm store remains the
centerpiece to the dairy business. It
is owned by the Reichert family
and spouses, including David
Reichert, president, and wife Beth.
Vice president is Carl Reichert, Jr.
with wife Carol. Treasurer is
Diane Rose, wife of Thomas Rose.
Secretary is Jennifer Blair and hus
band Charles. The spouses are also
shareholders in the company.
The family business was pur
chased in February this year from
the Moser family.
Since then the farm store has
added a deli and bakery.
But one tradition stays the same
—refilling the store’s glass bottles
with whole, 2 percent, or skim
milk. The bottles are often brought
in by a friend or neighbor. At one
time, recalled Rose, one person
brought 20 bottles in to be refilled
for his neighbors.
The dairy charges a $1 deposit
on each bottle. A half gallon of
milk is sold for $l.lO in glass bot
tles. The store also carries various
plastic cartons, including pint,
quart, half gallon, and gallon sizes.
Also, Oley Turnpike Dairy
makes and freezes its own ice
cream, which it sells at the store
parlor.
They also mix their own con
centrated orange juice, iced tea,
and lime and grape juices. They
don’t mix apple juices.
Thomas Rose knows how to
operate the business from the
ground level.
“I have several years of experi
ence in a retail background. I sold
clothing at the Bon Ton,” he said.
At Bon Ton, Rose was the division
sales manager.
Many other owners have experi
ence in various parts of retail food
sales. Jennifer Blair, who works
full time, has deli experience. Car
ol Reichert has experience with
baked goods. Carl Reichert loves
animals and cares for the huge pet
ting zoo open to the public, behind
the store.
(Turn to Pag* A 43)
Thomas Rose, a partner In the family business who is in
charge of the ice cream parlor, noted some of the chal
lenges of taking over a family business going back 28 years.
Stacy Kline at the deli counter at Oley Turnpike Dairy.
«- 1 ?i pe ? ln &* 00 welcomeB visitors. They included Susan-
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