FAQs
PRODUCT FAQ’s
Is your milk organic?
South Mountain Creamery milk is minimally processed right on-site. Although it is not certified organic, we follow many of the same processes as organic milk producers. In addition, our Trickling Springs Organic line is certified organic.
Are your products antibiotic and hormone free?
Yes, our cows are grass-fed, and antibiotic and hormone free.
What are your practices for the ethical treatment of animals?
Taking care of our cows is our number one priority. Without our cows, we can’t do what we do. Our cows are grass-fed in the pasture, given a supplemental diet of grain, provided with comfortable shelter in the barn, and cared for by a qualified, large-animal veterinarian. They receive bi-weekly foot care as well.
Is your milk pasteurized and homogenized?
Yes, all of our milk is pasteurized to meet federal guidelines. Our only non-homogenized product is our creamline milk.
HOME DELIVERY FAQ’s
Do I live in your delivery range?
We deliver to many parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C, and North Carolina. To see if you fall within our delivery area, visit us here and enter your address.
How do I sign up for home delivery?
Signing up for home delivery is easy! Visit us online here to register.
How often can I get deliveries?
We deliver to neighborhoods as often as once a week. When you register, we’ll let you know which day of the week you can expect your deliveries.
Where will my order be placed when it’s delivered?
We ask SMC customers to leave out a cooler (or one of our SMC Porch boxes) in an accessible area like your porch or front steps. Our delivery drivers will leave your order there. The cooler helps protect your order and keep it cool until you can bring it inside.
How should i prepare for my home delivery order?
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Icing down coolers: add ice packs and/or frozen water bottles to your coolers when you are expecting a delivery. Any time spent in a non-iced cooler can shorten the shelf life.
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We have found that frozen water bottles/ice packs tend to stay frozen longer; better maintaining the temperature in the cooler.
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When storing milk in the fridge, we recommend not storing the milk on the door or in the front as these are two places that deal with temperature changes. Please be sure to store the dairy products in the middle towards the back where it is coldest in the fridge.
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Ideal fridge temperature is 36 degrees for milk to last until date. A warmer fridge can shorten the listed expiration date!
Our drivers are instructed to not leave an order if there is not a cooler present. Thank you for your cooperation!
How will I know my order has been delivered?
How does the Live Cart work?
Live Cart lets you add or remove items throughout the week leading up to your order cutoff time. At the time of your order cutoff, the live cart will submit your order automatically. The flexible Live Cart process allows you to make changes to your order in real time without having to worry about submitting your order in time each week!
How do home delivery deposits work?
Some of our products require a small deposit for their reusable packaging, such as glass milk bottles and insulated produce bags. When you purchase these products, we will charge for the deposit as well. When you return reusable packaging to us, we return your deposit as a credit to your home delivery account.
To return items, leave them in your home delivery porch box where you receive your order. Our delivery drivers will pick them up when they drop off your next order. You can also return them to either our farm in Middletown, Maryland or our downtown Frederick location to receive your credit.
Here is a list of items that require a deposit:
- Wood Produce Crate (available in July/August for bulk sales) – $8.00 deposit
- Glass Bottles (milk, eggnog, Old Fashioned Custard, cream top, buttermilk, heavy cream, half & half) – $3.00 deposit per bottle
- Blue Milk Crate (for bulk milk purchase) – $10.00 deposit
- Reusable Produce Bag – $4.00 deposit
- Reusable Meat Bundle Bag – $4.00 deposit, comes with dry ice packs
Additionally, our recyclable and reusable Ice Cream Boxes do not require a deposit, but can be returned to South Mountain Creamery to be reused to reduce waste.
Lastly, due to possible cross-contamination, we cannot accept used egg cartons. We ask that you please recycle them.
Where are you located?
We are located in Middletown, Maryland, just about halfway between Frederick and Hagerstown off Alt Route 40.
Where can I park?
We have parking on-site at the farm, right outside of Karen’s Kountry Store, and additional parking just across the street.
What are your hours of operation?
Karen’s Kountry Store is open Monday to Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you’re coming to see the cows get milked that occurs at 1:30 p.m. everyday!
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, as long as your four-legged friend is leashed at all times and is well behaved! Please note that dogs who have not been around large animals may react differently. If you are unsure, we ask that you leave your pup at home, so as to not to create an unsafe situation for our cows or guests.
What is appropriate footwear?
Be sure to wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes to the farm!
Are there restroom facilities?
Yes, there are portable toilets located throughout the farm.
Can large groups visit for tours?
Absolutely! We just ask that you make an appointment with us in advance. Click here to learn more about our tour offerings.
Do I need to buy a ticket to visit?
Nope! You can come visit us, see the cows, and visit our store without a ticket or entrance fee.
What is there to do at the farm?
There are plenty of fun things to do and see at our farm all year long!
- Visit the original Milking Barn
- Schedule an appointment to feed the baby calves.
- Enjoy hand-dipped or soft-serve ice cream at Karen’s Kountry Store, and shop farm-fresh products like milk, butter, and local products and produce.
- Take a self-guided or guided tour of the farm with stops at the original Milking Barn and Loafing Barn, Maternity Ward, and Calf Barn.
- Visit during one of our many events.
- Throughout the year we offer weekend events like live music, goat yoga, paint parties and game days, plus other seasonal activities.
- Our food truck is often on site for these events, where you can find popular items like grilled cheese, cheeseburgers, hot dogs and more! (Menu subject to change.)
- Several of our events have become annual traditions, such as the Spring Festival, Easter Egg Hunt, Corn Maze, and Sunflower and Pumpkin Patches.
What happens in the case of inclement weather and I’ve scheduled a calf feeding or tour?
We will reach out to you to let you know that your appointment has been rescheduled. We will work with you to reschedule for a time that works best for you and your group.
How early should I arrive before my scheduled tour or calf feeding?
We ask that you arrive 5 to 10 minutes ahead of your scheduled time, and check in with us at Karen’s Kountry Store.
What is your alcohol policy?
At this time, we do not permit the use of alcohol at the farm. Alcohol is permitted for certain special events only.
Is the farm family friendly?
Yes! A visit to South Mountain Creamery is a fun place to visit for all ages! We have something for everyone.
Does South Mountain Creamery offer catering?
Interested in having us cater your event? Treat your guests to pre-packaged South Mountain Creamery ice cream! Please reach out to Kristin, at Megan.Burtner@smcdairy.com, with the details of your event to discuss availability and pricing.
Are self-guided and guided-tours handicap accessible?
South Mountain Creamery is constantly working to improve accessibility on our farm. Many of our locations can be easily navigated by wheelchair or other mobility device, including Karen’s Kountry Store, the calf barn, and the maternity ward. However, as a working farm nestled in a mountainesque landscape, there are some areas that are not as easily accessible and may require additional assistance. For example, the gravel road that leads to the calf barn may be challenging to navigate without assistance. Our tour guides can show you the best ways to access different attractions on the farm during your visit.
We strongly recommend that anyone with concerns about accessibility have one or more adults to assist them while touring. If you have any questions regarding accessibility on the farm, please contact us at 844-762-6455.