Photo by Janelle Patterson Local dairy farms presently sending their milk to the Dean Foods/ Broughtons Marietta plant will be sending milk to the plant under new ownership by Prairie Farms next month.

Farmers are continuing to sell their wares and plants this season, connecting through local markets and keeping an eye on the sale of the Dean Foods/Broughtons dairy plant in Marietta.

“I’ve been getting a lot of calls from people about how to support our local farmers,” said OSU Extension Educator Marcus McCartney Tuesday. “We’ve been watching those sales, too.”

The Broughton dairy processing plant in Marietta, owned by Dean Foods, was confirmed Tuesday to be sold to Prairie Farms.

Dean Foods declared bankruptcy last year and left several local dairy farmers uncertain about the future of their production.

The Marietta plant is included in a list provided to The Marietta Times Tuesday of the sale of Dean Foods facilities including an Akron facility and facilities in Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Kentucky.

McCartney, also a board member for the River City Farmers Market held in the Washington County Fairgrounds, encouraged local residents to consider supporting local farmers through the food stands throughout the county.

“Our market reopened over the weekend, and today I worked with Dave Florence to get his mobile vendor license so he can join us this weekend with Twin Pines Dairy,” said McCartney.

Hensler’s and other farm stands throughout the region have also encouraged residents to seek their produce, eggs, meat and dairy as direct from the source as possible.

But cautionary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are still in play, said McCartney.

“You touch it, you buy it, that’s it,” he said. “And there’s only to be the essentials, just food vendors, no crafts.”

Janelle Patterson can be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.

At a glance:

• Marietta Dean Foods/Broughton dairy processing plant was announced Tuesday as part of the sale to Prairie Farms.

• The River City Farmers Market will remain open on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and noon, limiting wares to outside tables only.

• The market’s rules include six feet of distance between vendors, and all shoppers must pay for what they touch.

Source: Times research.