New England Dairy along with our partners at American Dairy Association North East have been connecting with retailers throughout the region to gain insight into milk and dairy restrictions (limits on the number of dairy items people can purchase) and how to address them. As you know, there is no issue with the supply of milk from producers.
The retail chains who have responded indicated that there are no restrictions on fluid milk from the corporate level. Some locations have restrictions on butter due to challenges getting enough butter in stock from distribution centers to keep pace with consumer demand. Dairy managers may post restriction signs when on-shelf stock becomes low to maintain some supply.
We are maintaining communications with processors to explore ways of helping solve for the distribution challenges at retail.
If you are at a store and see a sign restricting purchases of dairy, please contact the dairy manager to ask questions, educate, and have the signs removed. Two important points you can make are:
- By putting up the signs, the store signals to consumers there is a dairy shortage, when there is not. Supply is plentiful.
- Putting up the signs limits store sales and has a negative impact on dairy farmers in the community, who need your help now more than ever.
