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Upstate New York is famous for its art, museums, and historic sites. It's also renowned for its quant old historic towns, beautiful fall foliage, and all sorts of other unique attributes - including small businesses. Small businesses are a large part of Upstate New York, and among them are the best local dairies in the country. In all of New York's agricultural sector, the dairy industry is the largest single segment; there are more than 3,500 dairy farms in the state!
At these local dairies, travelers can purchase and experience the true quality of homemade products, including milk, cream, and all sorts of other dairy products like butter, cheese, and even ice cream. The following dairies are not only local favorites but rank nationwide for their qualities and true local experiences.
Pittsford Farms Dairy In Pittsford, New York
Right on the Erie Canal in the Village of Pittsford, right outside Rochester, NY, Pittsford Farms Dairy is consistently the favorite local dairy in Upstate New York. This dairy, established way back in 1888, is also one of the oldest family businesses still running today, and is especially unique.
Their milk is vat pasteurized and sold in glass bottles - their chocolate milk is consistently voted as the best chocolate milk in the entire state of New York. The rich, smooth, and delicious ice cream, all made from scratch and hand-packed, is also made in over seventy different flavors, served either in the in-store ice cream parlor or by the quart. And on top of everything, they also have an in-house bakery and café. Some of their famous ice cream flavors are:
- Lumberjacked (peanut butter ice cream with homemade toffee pieces, fudge swirl, and peanut butter swirl)
- Grasshopper Pie (mint ice cream with fudge swirl and Oreos)
- Coconut Almond Crunch (coconut ice cream with almonds, chocolate crunch pieces, chocolate flecks, and coconut shavings)
- Dirt (chocolate ice cream with Oreos, mini chocolate chips, and chocolate crunch pieces)
- Seasonal flavors like pumpkin, peppermint stick, and more
When travelers visit Pittsford Farms Dairy, they are guaranteed a true local business experience. This dairy's current retail store and milk processing plant reside in a red building designed to resemble the original barn that was unfortunately burned down many years ago. Inside this beautiful piece of architecture are not only dairy products; this store also operates as a small, intimate grocery store that sells products from other local businesses in the area. The epitome of a family business atmosphere resides here in this red barn building, and visitors from all around the world come here to get a taste of not only this dairy but of the town that it lives in.
Visiting this dairy during the Winter is also a great bucket list item for the holiday season; the local lumberjack sells Christmas trees and wood carvings, and there are even cows for animal lovers to visit, pet, and feed granola bars to. Plus, Pittsford Farms Dairy's eggnog is the best in the country.
Hoover's Dairy In Niagara County, New York
Hoover's Dairy is another local favorite in Upstate New York; located in Sanborn, near Niagara Falls, this dairy also offers an authentic and local experience. Hoover's is a family-owned business that has been operated since 1920, and not only do they sell milk in glass bottles, but they also deliver it to customers' doors.
When travelers come to visit Hoover's in one of New York's most beautiful small towns, trying their strawberry milk is a must. This flavored milk, made with whole milk to ensure extra creaminess, is famous for its richness and its flavor. Inside the store, visitors will be able to find all sorts of local products, from dairy products to meats - visiting this store is not only a great way to get a true taste of Niagara County but a great way for visitors to experience the authenticity behind a family business.
Trinity Valley Dairy In East Homer, New York
Another favorite local dairy in Upstate New York is Trinity Valley, which is located in a beautiful valley in East Homer, outside of Syracuse, New York. This dairy has been in the family for 100 years and gives the local community freshly farmed milk and other products like cheese curds and baked goods made from scratch. Out of 100 dairy farms in the area, Trinity Valley is the only one known as a "jugger," which is a farm term, meaning this dairy bottles its milk straight from the cow, giving it the freshest taste possible.
Travelers visiting this dairy will get to see a true Upstate New York farm and experience what goes on behind a farm-to-table operation, much like the ones for which Ithaca, New York, is famous. There are all sorts of other local products, like honey, seasonal produce, and Upstate New York's famous maple syrup. Travelers visiting this area are known to buy honey and maple syrup from this farm to not only keep a taste of the area with them but to bring home and share with friends and family.
Visiting a local or family business is always a special experience, and when visitors can get a taste of that experience, it becomes even more enjoyable - especially when those tastes can be ice cream, chocolate milk, or even strawberry milk! These family-owned dairies are some of Upstate New York's best places to eat and the biggest secrets of the locals; visitors will want to try everything inside.