Eastleigh Farm to Halt Raw Milk Production, Close Farm Store

Eastleigh Farm will halt the production of raw milk and close its farm store this weekend.

“This winter we have seen the worst possible conditions we have ever had. The deplorable weather has taken a toll on the operation of the store and the animals themselves. This has been a difficult decision for me to make because I have placed so much stock in the health and well being of the animals. The people who have worked at Eastleigh for the past several years have been a dedicated group of forward thinkers and without their help, Eastleigh never would have survived. At this point because of the weather and other internal considerations I have decided that there is no way we can continue. Therefore, the store operation will cease effective this Sunday at 6,” said Doug Stephan in a statement.

Eastleigh Farm also said it will halt production of its raw milk.

The store will offer discounts on perishable items.

“The plan is to open the store mid-spring,” added Stephan.

However on the Eastleigh Farm Facebook page it was suggested that any “prepay cards should be used by Sunday. Refunds are available or remainder amount can be transferred as a donation to the farm.”

It has been a tough year for the farm. It was a year ago on Feb. 19, that a barn collapsed at Eastleigh, trapping 10 cows. Four cows eventually died.

Stephan began selling raw milk in 2009. Of the 200 cows on site, about 60 are involved in the raw milk production.

The farm has also been scheduled for foreclosure several times, only to have it postponed just as many times.

Stephan purchased the 100+ acre property on Edmands Road in Framingham in 2006 for $4 million. Later, he mortgaged the property for another $5.5 million.