Oakhurst Dairy
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy products |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Founder | Arthur Leadbetter (originated as a dairy farm in 1902) |
| Headquarters | Portland, Maine , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Dairy products, juices |
| Owner | Dairy Farmers of America |
| Parent | Dairy Farmers of America |
Oakhurst Dairy is a dairy enterprise located at 364 Forest Avenue in Portland, Maine, United States. Its main products include dairy products and juices. Established in 1918, Oakhurst came into the spotlight in 2003 when agribusiness leader Monsanto filed a lawsuit concerning its milk carton label, which declared "Our farmer's pledge: no artificial hormones," referencing the absence of bovine somatotropin (rBST), a milk-enhancing hormone marketed by Monsanto. Monsanto argued that this labeling suggested Oakhurst's milk was superior to that from cows treated with rBST, potentially harming its commercial interests. In January 2014, Oakhurst was purchased by Dairy Farmers of America, a nationwide milk marketing cooperative headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
History
The origins of Oakhurst trace back to a dairy farm founded in 1902 by Arthur Leadbetter in Portland. The business adopted the name Oakhurst in 1918, and three years later, Stanley Bennett acquired the farm with financial backing from Nathan Cushman. Initially, milk delivery was conducted using horse-drawn wagons covering two routes. By 1923, this expanded to twelve routes, and by 1929, the company managed 28 routes including wholesale distribution channels.
From its early days, Oakhurst prioritized producing higher-quality milk compared to competitors and implemented regular inspections of farms and processing facilities. Notably, in 1933, it became the first dairy in the United States to conduct milk testing for tuberculin.
During the 1940s, Oakhurst’s wholesale distribution network grew to serve customers such as IGA, A&P, educational institutions, and Maine General Hospital. The Bennett family assumed full ownership in 1941. A significant expansion of the processing plant took place in 1954, increasing daily capacity threefold to 40,000 quarts.
Home delivery services were discontinued in 1976 due to challenges with profitability. The following year, Oakhurst acquired Sanford Dairy and continued with various acquisitions throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. In 1988, Fitzpatrick Dairy filed an antitrust suit against Oakhurst, resulting in a $1.9 million judgment against Oakhurst in 1990.
The dispute with Monsanto over hormone-free labeling in 2003 was resolved through an out-of-court settlement; Oakhurst agreed to adjust its label by adding the word "used" and including FDA statements clarifying that no significant difference exists between milk from cows treated with rBST and those not treated. Oakhurst maintains that it does not incorporate rBST in its products.