Sunday, May 26, 2024
I met Fred in the 1970s when, as a reporter for the Democrat newspaper, I covered his dispute with the state over what he was supposed to charge for milk from his cows. He’d opened a store, West Norton Farms, on Route 31 and was selling milk direct to consumers for less than what state minimum price regulations required. The dispute went on a half-dozen years. I admired his tenacity in taking on the state and spending a great deal of money and effort on lawyers, hearings and so forth.
Besides milk, Fred 50 years ago also sold another product from his farm, dried cow manure, bagged and offered as organic fertilizer. Now his son and grandsons at their business are distributing a similar product made from manure and other materials!
Fred was a trend-setter and an inspiration. My condolences to all his family on your loss.
