Milk and More Delivered to Your Door by Yorktown Family Owned Business

Just as the sun rises over many sleepy suburban towns or villages, the local milkman can still be seen making his rounds—in a very modern, fully refrigerated vehicle—going from doorstep to doorstep, delivering dairy and other foods to the quiet communities.

Serving Westchester since 1993 is Starlight Dairy, a Yorktown Heights, family-owned business offering home delivery of everything from glass bottled milk, fresh juices, farm-fresh eggs, cheese, yogurt and bread, among other things.

Dwight Fullwood has been a milkman for the company for the last 13 years. He describes his typical customer as nice and laid back and highly appreciative of the service they are receiving.

And it isn’t easy work he’s doing either.

“We start out from the warehouse at 1 a.m. and we go through the night,” Fullwood said. “Sometimes you meet the customer, sometimes you don’t.”

However, he quickly relates that when a connection is made, the people are always nice and the kids are happy to see him, always with a “thank you for the wonderful milk.”

Historically, milk was delivered on a daily basis to prevent spoilage before the advent of modern refrigeration. Milkmen originally deployed horse-drawn carriages in the 1800’s to make their deliveries—a practice used in Britain into the 1950’s.

The late 19thCentury and the first few decades of the 20th stand as the heyday of the milkman; once the ‘60’s rolled around, the trade became more scarce with the proliferation of technological conveniences.  In more recent years, a battery-operated vehicle called a milk float has replaced the horse-powered carriage as the delivery conveyance of choice for milk in the U.K.

And despite Starlight Dairy's web presence, the main way that the company advertises is by word of mouth.

“One customer tells the next customer; that’s how we get most of our business, so far,” Fullwood said.

Fullwood estimates that he visits some 260 homes on a four-night week. His route includes Harrison, White Plains, Rye Brook, Rye and Larchmont-Mamaroneck. The company also services some areas in Northern Westchester including Yorktown Heights.

People generally opt for home delivery to avoid lengthy lines in the larger supermarkets for products they use everyday. Having a milkman allows them the convenience of starting their day readily supplied without having to leave the comforts of home.

“Our advantage is that we bring it straight to their doorstep and they wake up in the morning. People like to wake up and see their milk right there,” Fullwood said. “They get accustomed to it.”

The milk comes from either the Byrne Dairy—located in Syracuse, New York—or Ronnybrook Farm Dairy that is sourced from Ancramdale, New York.

Bovine somatotropin (BST) is a hormone found in cattle that some dairies use to increase milk production. However, both brands distributed by Starlight are BST and growth hormone free and come in a variety of sizes.

“It’s more fresh and the taste is totally different,” said Fullwood of the glass-bottled milk. “I mean even the plastic [bottles] we carry from Byrne, if you compare them to some of the other milk that’s out there, you know, I don’t really want to name names, but if you try the difference, you taste the difference and taste is everything.”  

Starlight Dairy also offers Tropicana, Mott’s and Ocean Spray juices, Poland Spring and San Pellegrino water, Bear Mountain Coffee Roasters, Freihofer bread and Boar’s Head bacon.  

“A typical person buys milk, bread, eggs, water, as the case may be; butter, cheese, yogurt sometimes,” Fullwood said.

An order can be delivered to your home weekly, bi-weekly or monthly on the regularly scheduled delivery day for a $40 monthly minimum cost plus a nominal $4 delivery charge.

“It’s been a pleasure doing this for so many years, every year just gets better and better,” said Fullwood, beaming with pride.

To place an order, visit the Starlight Dairy website here  or contact Starlight Dairy at info@starlightdairy.com and (914) 243-0069.