After a strenuous workout, practice, or game many of us automatically reach for a carbohydrate-based sports drink to refuel and rehydrate. However, recent research indicates there is a far superior sports replenishment beverage available that naturally contains what is needed for sports recovery. In addition to the carbs, sodium, and potassium added to commercially produced sports beverages, it provides high quality proteins, calcium, magnesium, and other important nutrients. Can you guess what it is? It’s lowfat chocolate milk.

Lowfat chocolate milk has the optimal level of carbohydrate to protein ratio (greater than 3 to 1) which has been scientifically shown to refuel and rebuild exhausted muscles after heavy exercise. A recent study found that drinking 16 ounces of lowfat chocolate milk with its mix of carbohydrates and protein (compared to a carbohydrate-only sports drink with the same amount of calories) led to greater concentration of glycogen (muscle fuel) in muscles at 30 and 60 minutes post exercise. Lowfat chocolate milk has also been shown to help athletes with toning  – gaining more lean muscle and losing fat – compared to drinking a carb-only beverage. When it comes to hydration, lowfat chocolate milk is a great tasting, nutrient-laden liquid that helps replace lost fluids after exercise. In addition, it is less expensive than many commercially produced protein supplements or sports drinks.

Below is a list of the liquid assets found in lowfat chocolate milk to share with athletes, teams, and coaches in your life.

• A natural source of high-quality proteins to build and repair muscle
• Great-tasting fluid for rehydrating
• Electrolytes including calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium to help replace what is lost with sweating
• Vitamin A to support a healthy immune system and good vision
• B vitamins for energy
• Calcium, Vitamin D, phosphorus, protein, magnesium, and potassium to build and maintain strong bones and reduce the risk of stress fracture
• A total of 9 essential nutrients to keep you healthy during a sports season

So when you’ve finished working out, practicing or competing, reach for at least 16 ounces of local, fresh Oakhurst lowfat chocolate milk within about 15-45 minutes to achieve the optimal benefit. And be sure to include our lowfat chocolate milk in your personal and team travel coolers so you’re able to refuel between multiple exercise events on any given day!

Seacoast United Maine U14 Girls - Barcelona

Today, more and more of us want to know what is in our food and want to better understand the nutritional components of what we eat. Research also tells us that many of you are looking for products that contain key health ingredients to supplement their diets. Omega-3’s are one of the top five ingredients wanted in products. To find out more about the benefits of adding Omega-3s to your diet, we sat down with Pam Stuppy, our Oakhurst Dairy Dietitian, to ask a few questions.

What are Omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered “essential fatty acids.” This means that the body doesn’t make them so you have to get them through your diet. DHA and EPA are the abbreviations for the Omega-3’s that appear to be the most effective for the majority of health issues. These Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in in fish, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, and also from algae and krill. Many individuals also take fish oil supplements containing EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids.

What are the health benefits of Omega-3s?
Research suggests that Omega-3s can provide health benefits for all people of all ages — from toddlers to seniors — as well as for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Omega-3 fatty acids have been most widely studied regarding their effects on cardiovascular health. Possible benefits include:

  •   Raising good cholesterol (HDL)
  •   Lowering triglycerides
  •   Helping to keep blood vessels flexible and reduce the risk of “hardening of the arteries”
  •   Slowing the progression of plaque build-up in blood vessels
  •   Helping to lower blood pressure, decrease the risk of heart attack and enhance the benefit of statin drugs used to lower cholesterol

Additionally, Omega-3’s can help with eye health. Research suggests benefits such as reducing the risk of retinal diseases. A diet including DHA has also been found to be beneficial for pregnant and breastfeeding women because it is important for normal brain and eye development in the fetus and infants. DHA may also help reduce the risk of premature and low birth weight babies. In addition, Omega-3’s may also help maintain brain function in the country’s aging population. Finally, Omega-3’s are often recommended to individuals with inflammation-related health issues because they are anti-inflammatory.

Why did Oakhurst create a low fat milk containing Omega-3s?
We wanted to provide our customers with another great choice when they reach into the dairy case. Several years ago, we realized our customers were beginning to look for specific health benefits from the products they purchase and at that time we introduced our Plus line. Oakhurst Plus Omega-3 milk was a natural extension of our existing Plus line.  It is also the only Omega-3 milk made locally in New England and it is priced 20-25 percent less than other national omega-3 enhanced milk products.

Can you get all the Omega-3s you need from drinking Oakhurst Plus Omega-3 milk?
Many health organizations believe that most Americans consume too little of the Omega-3’s in their diets. For general health, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests an average intake of at least 500 mg of EPA plus DHA Omega 3’s per day. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other specific health issues you should consult your healthcare professional to determine the appropriate intake amounts.

Drinking Oakhurst Plus Omega-3 1% Low Fat milk makes it easier for you to add some healthy Omega-3’s into your diet while also reaping the benefit of the other nine essential nutrients found in low fat milk. Each 8 oz. glass of Oakhurst Plus Omega-3 contains 32 mg of EPA/DHA Omega-3s  – every little bit helps.

Where can I find Oakhurst Plus Omega-3 milk?
Our Oakhurst Plus Omega -3 milk is only available in half gallons and can be found in chain grocery stores such as Hannaford and Shaws Supermarkets, mass merchant stores such as Walmart and Sam’s Club, along with many independent grocery stores and convenience stores throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

It’s spring! And, farmers are busier than ever this time of year as baby animals are often being born. Even though this maybe one of the busier times of the year for farms, the 73 Maine farms where Oakhurst milk comes from are hard at work every day throughout the entire year and share a common goal to provide our customers with the highest quality milk and dairy products possible.

Our farmers are an important part of our business and every year we like to take a moment to recognize them for all their hard work and their continued commitment to quality. A few weeks ago we all got together at the Elks Lodge in Waterville to share some stories, enjoy some good food and recognize several of our farmers with awards for outstanding milk quality, cow health and farm cleanliness. We also announced our Producer of the Year. Below are highlights from our annual awards event.

Ten farms were recognized for overall quality across multiple categories with the top five receiving a plaque and a cash donation.
Our top 10 producer are:

1. R.E. Hemond, Inc. – Minot, Maine
Operated by: Rick Hemond

2. Highland Farms, Inc. – Cornish, Maine
Operated by: Libby Bleakney and her twin daughters Jennifer Kimball and Johanna Chapman

3. Deerfield Farm  – Winterport, Maine
Operated by: Linda and Paul Cole

4. Androscoggin Holsteins – Leeds, Maine
Operated by: Sandy and John Nutting

5. Hemond Hill Farm – Minot, Maine
Operated by: Irene and John Hemond

6. Aghaloma Farms – Knox, Maine
Operated by: The Larabee Family

7. Silver Maple Farms, Inc. – Albion, Maine
Operated by: Jean & Dennis McKeen

8. Hilton Farm – Norridgewock, Maine
Operated by: Jim Hilton

9. East Ledge Farm – Leeds, Maine
Operated by: Sandra McNear

10. Scott Farm – Garland, Maine
Operated by: Karl Scott

R.E. Hemond, Inc., run by Rick Hemond, received our Producer of the Year Award and his trip to the award podium this year marked the fourth time in a row to pick up the top honor. R.E. Hemond, Inc., has been producing milk for Oakhurst for 25 years and we look forward to many more great years with this outstanding farmer.

Additionally, we recognized farms in four individual milk quality categories. The winners include Androscoggin Holsteins, Nickerson Hill Farms of Brooks and operated by Thomas Yori and Aghaloma Farms, which walked away with two individual category awards.
Congratulations to all of our farmers and thank you for your dedication and hard work to deliver quality milk.

Together, we create and deliver the best milk throughout New England that our customers can always count on.  We are The Natural Goodness of Maine!

As part of Oakhurst’s ongoing commitment to healthy kids and a healthy environment, each year we make a donation to the Maine Envirothon program – an international environmental competition for high school students. This week we had a chance to sit down with tish carr, Maine Envirothon education coordinator, and chat with her about what makes the program so special, and why it’s an important opportunity for so many Maine teenagers.

What exactly is Envirothon?

In a nutshell, Envirothon is a natural resource problem-solving competition for students in grades 9-12. It’s kind of like the “Odyssey of the Mind” program, but with an environmental twist. Students compete on a regional, state and international level for scholarships and other prizes. In fact, regional competitions start on April 26^th with the State competition held on May 31^st at the University of Maine, Orono.

How does the competition work?

During the competition, students work in teams to complete “exams” at 5 different stations – forestry, wildlife, aquatics, soils and a current environmental issue. This year the current issue is non-point source pollution and low impact development. At each station the students have 30 minutes to complete an “exam” that requires various hands-on skills such as identifying trees, analyzing soil stratifications, tracking prints, etc. At the current issue station, the students deliver a 5-minute oral and visual presentation with a 2 minute question/answer period from the judges.  At the state competition students have a 7 minute oral and visual presentation with 2 minutes of questions from the judges.

Do the students have to use a lot of different academic and practical skills?

Absolutely. One of the things that’s really wonderful about Envirothon is that it allows students with all types of abilities to shine. It’s not just a competition for kids who are book smart. It gets everyone outdoors, working as a team, and excited about learning. Our overarching goal for the program is to get students excited about post-secondary education. Whether it’s college, trade school or something else – we just want the students to be excited about continuing their education and becoming future environmental leaders.

 How does Oakhurst’s sponsorship benefit Envirothon?

Oakhurst has been a sponsor of Envirothon for 5 years now. They’ve helped us to completely revamp our brochure, which has been really instrumental in generating increased interest and participation in the program. We’ve almost doubled the number of Maine teams participating since 2004! The financial support from Oakhurst has also helped us to increase our outreach programs and provide scholarships to Maine teams so that they can travel to the national and international competitions. 

How can others get involved, or donate to the program?

In addition to financial support for things like outreach programs and student travel scholarships, we are always looking for volunteers at our regional and state competitions. It’s a great way to learn about the program and help make a difference for Maine teens across the state.

To make a donation, volunteer, or find out more about participating in an Envirothon competition, visit www.maineenvirothon.com, or contact tish carr at tish.carr@mainswcds.org.

On Friday, April 13, 2012, our Board of Directors voted to adopt a new leadership structure for our company as I prepare to transition from day-to-day operations and focus on my role as Chairman of the Board. My brother, John H. Bennett, our current Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Thomas A. Brigham, our current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, have been named Co-Presidents of Oakhurst Dairy. As Chairman of the Board, I will still have a continued presence at Oakhurst and remain involved in key decisions that impact our company and our customers, along with being available to John and Tom for guidance on a regular basis.

For 90 years and three generations, the Bennett family has owned, managed and operated Oakhurst Dairy and we will continue to do so. When my brother, Stanley T. Bennett, II became ill in 2010, I was asked by the Board and the family to step into the top leadership role having worked at the dairy for more than 40 years and served as Chief Operating Officer since 2006. At that time, John and I also began working closely together to run the company because I wanted to maintain my original plan of transitioning from day-to-day operations by June of 2012. With another top management change in our near future, I asked John to develop a leadership structure plan that would best position Oakhurst for continued success and growth.

He began working closely with Tom Brigham, who joined Oakhurst in 1995 and has more than 25 years of senior financial management experience in food related businesses, to develop that plan. Together, they presented the idea of a Co-Presidency to my siblings, the Board of Directors and me. All parties agreed that their plan was an innovative solution that would help maintain the long-term sustainable growth of Oakhurst Dairy.

As Co-Presidents, John and Tom will both oversee the day-to-day operations of Oakhurst Dairy. John will have direct responsibility for the company’s Production, Quality, Logistics and IT functions. Tom will have direct responsibility for the Sales, Marketing, Accounting, Financial and Administrative areas of the business.

The two are going to make a great team and I believe this new collaborative leadership structure will make Oakhurst even stronger. At the helm will now be two extremely qualified individuals with deep industry experience and almost 25 years collectively leading the dairy. It is a decision that will position Oakhurst for the future and allow us to continue to deliver the quality products you expect while continuing to serve our community.

Working alongside John and Tom will be a strong group of senior managers and Bennett family members who bring many years of experience and service to the company. These include: Althea Bennett McGirr, Director of Customer Service and Consumer Affairs; Jean Bennett Driscoll, Executive Assistant; Paul Connolly, Vice President and Chief Information Officer; Joe Hyatt, Vice President of Human Resources and Safety; and Jim Lesser, Vice President of Marketing and Sales. The efforts of the management team are augmented by the contributions of Priscilla Bennett Doucette and Mary Ellen Bennett Tetreau, family members who both serve on the Oakhurst Dairy Board of Directors and as members of the company’s Charitable Giving and Marketing Advisory Committees.

Congratulations John and Tom and thank you for your commitment and dedication to Oakhurst Dairy.

As part of our year-long 90^th anniversary celebration, we are launching our Oakhurst Moments Contest. The grand prize winner will take home a lifetime supply of Oakhurst products and $1,000 for their favorite charity. In addition to the grand prize, we will randomly select four individuals entered into the contest to receive $100 each in product.

Entering the contest is easy! All you have to do is share your Oakhurst Moment via a photo, video or brief written story on our Facebook page. Just click on the “Enter to Win” tab to get started. If you are not on Facebook, you can send your Moment to us at Oakhurst Dairy, 364 Forest Avenue, Portland, ME  04101.  An Oakhurst Moment can represent a wide range of stories and memories. Examples include enjoying a favorite product at a special time of day, a memory of home milk delivery or a first meeting with Oakie, our mascot.

The contest begins today, April 9, 2012, and will run through June 30, 2012, with the grand prize winner and four randomly selected individuals announced in July. Each week, entries will be reviewed by an internal committee and eligible entries narrowed to 10 finalists which will be evaluated by a judging panel consisting of Bennett family members, community leaders and local celebrities. The judging panel will select the grand prize winner from the 10 finalists. . .. . Entries will be judged based on how individuals follow the contest rules ( http://www.oakhurstdairy.com/oakhurst-moments/official-rules ) as well as the quality and originality of the submission and the creativity in which it captures a special memory or moment with Oakhurst.

To get the community excited about the contest and present new opportunities for you to create and share Oakhurst Moments, we will participate in several events (see list below) throughout the three-month contest period. At these events, you will be able to pose for pictures with our mascot, Oakie, and in the Oakhurst Moments photo booth. Young children will be able to let their imagination soar and pretend to be a child-size Oakie or a cow dressed as a milkman.

EVENTS

April 14, 2012 – Sea Dogs Game vs. Binghamton Mets with Bill Bennett throwing out the first pitch, Portland, ME

April 21, 2012 – Parenting New Hampshire Magazine Family Fun Fair, Bedford, NH

May 5, 2012 – Kennebunk’s 14^th Annual May Day Festival, Kennebunk, ME

May 6, 2012 – Portsmouth Children’s Day, Portsmouth, NH

May 19, 2012 – Sea Dogs vs. Binghamton Mets, Portland, ME

June 2, 2012 – Westbrook Together Days, Westbrook, ME

If you are not on Facebook, you have the opportunity to send your entry via mail to Oakhurst Moments, 364 Forest Avenue, Portland, Maine 04101.

So, what’s your Oakhurst Moment? GOOD LUCK!

Welcome to the official Oakhurst Dairy Natural Goodness blog. Today, we are re-launching this online forum and we hope you’ll become a part of our new community. 

What’s this blog all about? It’s about sharing with you our commitment to doing the right thing everyday whether that means supporting environmental initiatives or programs dedicated to healthy kids and families or creating the quality products you’ve come to expect from us over the last 90 years. You’ll also get an insiders perspective on the local dairy business and meet some of our wonderful farmers. 

If you’re interested, RSS feeds are available for all posts or specific categories.

Thanks so much for visiting our blog! We hope you’ll check back often!

 As we celebrate our 90^th anniversary, we want to say a special thank you to the 70 local Maine dairy farms that supply Oakhurst.  We share a common goal – to deliver the highest quality milk and dairy products possible.  Some of you have been with us for the entire 90 years, your parents and grandparents worked with ours.  Regardless of when you started shipping to Oakhurst, we hope each and every one of you will be with us for the next 90 years.  At Oakhurst, we’ve always said we’re only as good as the milk we receive from our farms – and your efforts to deliver premium, fresh milk on a regular basis are the reason Oakhurst has been able to meet our customers’ expectations of uncompromised quality for the past 90 years and counting.

We appreciate your efforts every day, and for choosing to ship to Oakhurst.  We can only imagine what a day on your farm must be like and probably no two are the same.  Up before the sun for the morning milking, feeding, cleaning the barn and equipment.  Hopefully a break for breakfast before more chores, fieldwork, equipment maintenance and then the evening milking.  With so much to do, we know you don’t have a lot of extra time, but we’d love to hear about a day on your farm and be able to share this with our customers.

So as we celebrate our 90^th, we want to make sure we thank you for your loyalty to Oakhurst and for your efforts to provide us with the highest quality milk.  Together, we deliver the best milk in Maine to our customers.  Together, we are The Natural Goodness of Maine!  Thank you for all you do!

This week we celebrate our 90^th anniversary and I want to take a moment to thank our customers.  As Director of Customer Service and Consumer Affairs, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many of you over the years.  It is your loyalty and support that has made us the largest independent family-owned dairy in Northern New England. 

There have been many changes since Oakhurst first started in 1921.  In the beginning almost all Oakhurst milk was delivered directly into your home by your “milkman”.  Today, the vast majority of our Oakhurst milk is delivered to retail stores.  We have many great partners from independent neighborhood stores to regional and national chains stores that carry Oakhurst milk.  We thank all those customers that promote and sell Oakhurst products.

So often we hear from consumers as they relay their personal stories about Oakhurst and why our dairy is important to their lives.  We never tire from hearing how much you enjoy our products.  We enjoy reading emails from those who express their appreciation to us for being the first dairy to make a no artificial growth hormone pledge.  Hearing from you encourages us to continue to improve on those qualities you expect in your dairy products.  We look forward to hearing and sharing more of your stories with all those who make it happen every day; our farmers and employees.

So as we celebrate our 90^th, we want to make sure we thank you for your loyalty and support.  We know you have a choice when you reach into the dairy case, thank you for reaching for Oakhurst!

Our employees have played a huge role in getting us to today, our 90^th anniversary.  To all of our current and past employees, I want to say thank you for everything you have done.  Your hard work, commitment, dedication and enthusiasm have helped build this company and the Oakhurst brand.

We have come a long way in 90 years.  As we look to the next 90 years, we know we can rely on your continued creativity to take us to new heights.  As a company, we will continue to strive for innovation in terms of the products we produce and in the ways we produce them.  We will continue to be committed to increasing our efficiency as an operation and providing superior service to our customers.  We will continue to lead the way in the dairy industry with sustainable practices to reduce our impact on the environment.

Along the way we have worked hard.  We’ve also had fun over the last 90 years.  I hope we can all think of something special that has happened to us during our time at Oakhurst.  We’d love to hear about your special moments. 

Celebrating our 90^th anniversary is special to the Bennett family, but it is only possible because of you, the extended Oakhurst family and the tremendous contributions you make every day.  I thank you for your support, belief and commitment.