“All of our farmers are within five to ten miles of our processing plant,” says Andrew. “We feel this is very important for keeping the milk fresh; usually within 24 hours of the cow being milked, it’s already in a carton, and we’re shipping it out to the hospital, schools, or whoever needs it. Our farmers are very valuable to us — their attention to the quality of milk coming in really helps with our freshness.” Ritchey’s Dairy has a long history with Nason Hospital. Many of the Ritcheys were born at Nason. Reid Ritchey recalls a fundraising drive in the 1940s by his grandfather, Oliver: “A lot of our employees paid off a pledge toward having the original hospital established . . . and, that was mainly through my grandfather, who was a bit forceful in having the employees make a pledge!” Ritchey’s and Nason share the goal of close relationships with local businesses and the community. When Nason established Company
Connection, its occupational health program, the dairy saw an opportunity. “Ritchey’s was one of our first occupational health clients,” says Nason CEO Garrett Hoover. “They’re a great success story and have always been a local favorite. They have a strong reputation throughout our region for providing quality service, and there’s a soft spot in everyone’s heart for their superb ice cream. Their approach to customer
service is like ours — caring and personal. They wanted a healthy workforce and wanted their costs kept in check. We gave them both.” “We’ve been very happy,” says Andrew. “Nason is quick to respond to our healthcare needs — they’re very good about seeing an employee immediately and recommending any care they may need.” This satisfaction is reflected in more than 500 businesses that are part of Nason’s occupational health program. Throughout the region, people increasingly value healthy food products and an appreciation for the quality and personal attention Ritchey’s Dairy provides. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship that thrives and grows over time and brings the simple, wholesome pleasures of the past to our lives today.
There was a time when milk didn’t come from the convenience store. Instead, an insulated metal box on the front porch awaited the delivery of cold milk . . . so fresh it was barely out of the cow. Milk was a simple pleasure that made us feel more connected to the fields, grain, and animals that produced it. Our mothers poured the cream from the top to lighten their coffee. Then, we eagerly poured it over our corn flakes. In the early 20th century, home delivery accounted for almost all milk sales. By 1963 it was down to a third. In 2001, it was a scant 0.4 percent. But, in Central Pennsylvania, people never lost their appreciation for this convenient service, and home delivery thrives today at Ritchey’s Dairy in Martinsburg. It was the dream of Oliver C. Ritchey, who founded the dairy in 1940 with forty-six cows and two delivery routes in Martinsburg and
Roaring Spring. A few years later, Oliver’s son Paul began to manage the operation. As business grew, the dairy kept pace with more delivery routes throughout the Altoona area, driven by Paul’s son Reid. Their product line expanded to include ice cream and iced tea, made from pure Roaring Spring water. In 1973, management of the dairy passed from Paul to Reid. Today, Ritchey’s Dairy is managed by Andrew Ritchey, Reid’s son. There are 50 employees. The dairy delivers to homes, schools, prisons, and grocery stores in more than fifty townships across five counties. “It’s a legacy,” says Andrew. “I’m fourth-generation, and it’s still a profitable business. We’re proud to be one of only four dairies left in the state that still does home delivery, and we continue to grow every year. I have four boys at home. Hopefully, someday, one of them will walk in our footsteps.”
On a recent sunny afternoon in early autumn, the ice cream counter at Ritchey’s is crowded with families and students from Martinsburg’s Central High School, just across a field from the dairy. Amazing cones and thick milkshakes exchange hands as the customers light up with satisfaction. The milk in the ice cream comes from dairy farmers throughout Morrisons Cove, some who have been supplying Ritchey’s Dairy for 60 years.
