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Date: 8/27/2020
ENFIELD, CT – COVID-19 has been an emotional rollercoaster for Smyth’s Trinity family owned dairy farm located on 4 Oliver Rd. Co-owner Anne Dugas said, “There was a huge increase in demand and we’re used to feeding and taking care of people. We want to meet their demands, but at the same time we don’t push our cows to over produce so we only have so much milk.”
Founded by her great-grandfather Richard Smyth during the Depression, Smyth’s Trinity Family Farm was originally located on Hazard Avenue. In 1984, the farm moved to its current location on Oliver Road.
Dugas and her brother Sam are fourth generation and partners at the farm.
The cows are milked twice a day, 12 hours apart. They’re brought in from the pasture or the exercise barn. The cows have to keep their schedule going so that they’re thriving in their routine. Smyth’s take pride in making a wide variety of premium dairy products. From whole chocolate milk, skim milk, one percent coffee and strawberry milk, half and half, heavy cream, yogurt and butter.
Throughout the mayhem, Dugas is grateful Smyth’s Trinity Farm is one of the businesses in Enfield that didn’t close. The town recognizes the need for local foods.
“We try to be authentic as possible,” said Dugas. “We really believe in doing what we say by making fresh dairy products. But the supply and demand has been really taxing because people are coming to me and I have to tell them they have to wait until Monday when we make more whole milk.”
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the farm had to scale back some of their store hours, opening at 9 a.m. as opposed to the normal 6 a.m. and postponed a couple of their farmers markets. They started working with a skeleton crew which cut back more things. Dugas said they were nervous in the beginning when farmers markets were getting canceled because they had to dump their products. The one good thing that came out of this pandemic is customers driving directly to the farm when the grocery stores couldn’t keep up with demand.
Because they have a small farm store, Smyth’s began curbside pickup. They put an awning outside their front door with a table so that customers could place and pick up their orders on sight.
Smyth’s also have a large amount of people calling in for contactless deliveries and pre-orders and currently have a waiting list for home deliveries.
They have received good feedback from customers coming in feeling comfortable picking up their food this way.
Enfield resident Sylvia Zimmer has been a Smyth’s customer for more than years. She loves their cheese curds and chocolate milk. “It’s important to have farm fresh products to get locally,” Zimmer respond. “And supporting local businesses is a great place to get kids interested in where and how milk they like is made.”
Debbie Tetreault from East Windsor, CT said, “Smyth’s is important to the Connecticut area because of all their great natural products, the yogurt being my favorite. They have the farm store and their delivery service.”
Jayne Colt first heard of Smyth’s Trinity Farm in 2010 when she was driving down Route 5. Since the pandemic started, Colt and her family have been using their delivery service.
“The reassurance that we have fresh milk, eggs and other dairy products was why we switched to home delivery,” Colt said. “We have always been causal customers. Eggnog every Christmas and chocolate milk treats every now and then.” She went on, “Everything we eat comes from a farm. We take that for granted when we walk into the supermarket and grab a pack of eggs or a gallon of milk. Having a local farm reminds us where these products come from and we love keeping the Smyth farm and family going.”
Dugas is happy Smyth’s has retained a lot of their business.
She replied, “It’s been a way for people to avoid going to the stores when they don’t feel comfortable with that avenue right now. It’s also a good thing for families who are at home quarantining can come in, get their orders, have a look at the cows and be in a safe outdoor environment.” Dugas continued, “It’s been wonderful, exhausting and part of history.”
Smyth’s Trinity Farm hours during COVID are Monday-Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Call at 860-745-0751 to make orders and request deliveries.