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  • Farmland Dairies closing

  • Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New Jersey
Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New Jersey

Moderator: David

 #1238348  by R36 Combine Coach
 
A longtime customer and landmark on the Bergen Line:

NJTV/NJN news
Farmland Dairies has decided to close its Wallington facility which has been in operation for decades. That means 325 layoffs.

“I was very surprised, no indication something like this could happen, especially before Christmas. Two managers walked into office the other day and handed me a note stating that they would be closing by Feb. 17th in three phases, two weeks apart, totally 325 jobs lost,” said Wallington Borough administrator Witold Baginski.

Fred Stern, spokesperson for Borden Dairy, the owner of Farmland Dairies, says officials decided to close this plant to increase efficiency. Another factor, the industry is changing, fewer people are drinking milk. When this plant closes, just three other milk processing facilities will remain in New Jersey and there will be fewer Farmland Dairy products on the shelves at New Jersey stores. It’s unclear if or how any of this will impact milk prices – they’re state-regulated. Meanwhile, area businesses say they will also feel the impact because many of the Farmland employees are longtime customers.