One of York County's best-known dairy operators, Red Lion's Earl Warner, is shown at a water pump as a boy. Warner, who would have been 100 in 2006, died six years earlier. Background posts: Milkman's relics humming around today and Forry Laucks, Lauxmont sparked debates.
First, they realized, the cultural change that put both parents in the workplace meant that often no one was home to receive the milk deliveries. Apple Valley Creamery's solution: Refrigerated trucks and ice packs that will keep the milk cold until someone comes home.Second, the rise of convenience and grocery stores made it nearly impossible for the old business model of home delivery to work. Their solution: Make home-delivered milk of such a high quality that customers won't want to go back to the grocery store.
And finally, operate in an area where no one else is trying to rejuvenate the milk man.
"We're the only one doing it in a huge area," (Don) Everett said.
Their business delivers milk and other food staples to 100 private customers and about 15 commercial customers.
It's a clear case of using history to inform a present-day decision. And then the milkman's return meant history repeated itself.
More information:
What: Apple Valley Creamery.
When: Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. The store is closed Sundays and Mondays.
Where: 541 Germany Road, East Berlin
Online: www.applevalleycreamery.com
For another view of the changing countryside in the region, click here.
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