Vermont DOC Selects Monument Farms Dairy to Supply Fresh Milk Statewide
The Vermont Department of Corrections announced on September 17, 2026, that it had awarded an institutional supply contract to family-owned Monument Farms Dairy. The Weybridge-based company will provide locally produced and bottled fluid milk to residents at every correctional facility operated by the state.
The arrangement follows a procurement change that ended the use of powdered milk across Vermont’s correctional network. Before the pilot programme, five of the six facilities served reconstituted milk obtained from industrial processors outside Vermont, including suppliers in Texas. All six facilities now serve chilled fluid milk produced by Vermont dairy farmers.
The transition required upgrades to refrigeration capacity. Funding from the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council supported the installation of commercial refrigeration equipment at Department of Corrections sites, addressing the storage requirements of a perishable product. Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets worked with the corrections department on the initiative.
Evaluations at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility recorded lower plate waste after fresh milk replaced reconstituted powder. Surveys conducted during the pilot also reported higher satisfaction with meals, greater enjoyment of the food and more positive views of the dining service among residents.
Monument Farms, established in 1930, is run by third- and fourth-generation dairy producers. The business operates its own herds, processing plant and delivery fleet in Addison County, allowing it to transport milk soon after milking and pasteurisation. The supply chain avoids the interstate brokerage arrangements previously associated with long-distance procurement.
The contract is expected to generate about $200,000 in recurring annual sales for the local and regional dairy economy. The Vermont agriculture department described institutional buyers such as correctional facilities, hospitals and universities as potential steady customers for independent regional processors. The DOC and Monument Farms agreement links public food purchasing with the state’s dairy sector.
