SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Stewart's Shops has won the award for the Highest-Quality Milk in New York State for 2007 from Cornell University's Department of Food Science. The distinction was officially announced at the New York State fair in Syracuse on August 27.
It is the second time in three years Stewart's has won this award; the chain received a perfect score.
The university collected samples from state dairy companies from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 and conducted analytical testing. The random samples of whole, low-fat [image-nocss] and skim milk were evaluated on criteria ranging from vitamin levels and flavor scores to bacteria counts and antibiotic residue-free purity.
This honor is extremely fulfilling for our entire company, particularly all of our dairy processing employees who work diligently with our local dairy farms to ensure our customers receive only the highest-quality milk products possible, said Gary Dake, president of Stewart's Shops Corp.
Stewart's has been processing milk since 1935 when Saratoga Dairy was created. In 1945, it purchased an ice cream operation and a shop from Donald Stewart in Ballston Spa, N.Y., and the first Stewart's Shop was born. Stewart's obtained the right in 1957 from the state Department of Agriculture to sell milk from its own Saratoga Dairy to the shops. Today, a selected group of about 50 dairy farmers from Saratoga, Washington, and Northern Rensselaer Counties provide milk for the 325 Stewart's Shops convenience stores in eastern New York and western Vermont.
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based Stewart's award-winning milk can be found in numerous products that the company carries in its shops. The company, a participant in the Pride of New York program, offers milk in whole, 1%, 2%, skim, lactose-free, chocolate, strawberry and cappuccino varieties. Other dairy byproducts include buttermilk, eggnog, half and half and heavy cream. The more than 40 varieties of ice cream available at Stewart's Shops are made daily with the prize winning milk at a plant in Saratoga, N.Y.
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