Nostalgia and Freshness Propel Thatcher Farm Home Delivery

Home delivery of milk in glass bottles means different things to different people, for some the novelty and nostalgia is selling point, while other customers know home delivery means fresher and healthier products.

No matter the reason, Thatcher Farm, a family-owned operation since 1891, provides quality products to homes in 20 communities around Milton as well as businesses in and around Boston.

M. Joseph Manning, his sons M. Joseph Manning Jr. and Jonathan Manning, his brother Peter Manning along with several other family members now manage the business.

The Manning family has seen their operation evolve over the years, all from their Thatcher Street location. What was once a dairy farm that housed 250 cows, is now an office and building with coolers. From the 1920s until 1963, the farm was a functioning milking facility. The milk was all delivered from the farm to Milton and neighboring communities.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Milton was developing around the farm and eventually made the pastures needed to run the farm unfeasible. That didn't end the Manning's hold on the industry. In fact, since then, delivery has increased with the addition of more products.

Thatcher Milk is now bottled at a farm in North Haverhill, NH and brought to Milton where it is delivered weekly to customers.

The glass bottle milk from Thatcher Farm is usually 48 hours old by the time it arrives at the customer's doorstep. "It's about as good you can get," said Pam Ames.

M. Joseph Manning has had a milk route since childhood. To this day, he delivers fresh milk and other items straight to the refrigerators of his clients. Plenty of the customers in Milton who have gotten home deliver from Thatcher Farm for years know their drivers and the Manning family personally.

Now, the new generation of customer is looking for the highest quality milk for their families. These savvy and well-read customers are drawn to the fact that Thatcher Farm never sells milk with Grown Hormones.

The newest frontier for Thatcher Farm is grocery items like pasta, pizza, breads and more.

"We're trying to make it convenient of our customers by supplying some grocery items," said Jonathan Manning.

Just like their dairy products, an emphasis is placed on quality when selecting other items for home delivery. With an ever-growing product line, Jonathan Manning and Ames say they have to consider cost, shelf life and feasibility when picking new stock.

Jonathan Manning said the addition of online ordering, which can be found at thatcherfarm.com, has shown existing customers how many things the farm really supplies.

As Thatcher Farm continues to evolve, its fair to believe that the Manning family will run their Milton institution for generations to come.

"We're trying to stay current and keep up," said Ames. "With this economy, what we do is really a luxury."

Having been in the community for so long, Thatcher Farm remains a staple around town. The farm participates in the Milton Farmer's Market each Thursday in Milton Village. Their truck and mascot also make appearances at community events like the Milton Road Race, which was held earlier this summer.