On Saturday, Nov. 15, the entrance to the Middlebury Hannaford on Court Street was crowded with students, farmworkers, and Addison County residents rallying in support of Migrant Justice’s Milk with Dignity campaign. Participants gathered to urge the supermarket chain to join the farmworker-designed human rights program, which establishes labor standards for dairy farms supplying store-brand milk.
The Middlebury picket was one of several coordinated actions across Vermont that day. Migrant Justice also led mass pickets at Hannaford stores in Morrisville and South Burlington, continuing the years-long effort to pressure the company to participate in Milk with Dignity.
The Milk with Dignity program establishes standards on dairy farms for rest breaks, fair housing, paid sick days and safe working conditions, and it includes a third-party monitoring system for reporting violations. Participating companies pay a premium on their store-brand milk, which supports farms in meeting the code of conduct. Hannaford has not agreed to join, prompting continued public demonstrations statewide.
Matt Stevenson ’27.5, a co-leader of Migrant Justice at Middlebury College (MJaM), said the group in front of Hannaford was focused on speaking directly with customers.
“We were educating shoppers about the Milk with Dignity program and asking them not to cross the picket line,” Stevenson said.
Saturday’s action in Middlebury began with a group setting up tables, signs and informational flyers near the store entrance. Early participants lined the sidewalk with posters to catch the attention of arriving shoppers.
Within 30 minutes, the sidewalk filled with students holding handmade signs and speaking with organizers. Members of MJaM were joined by students from Bennington College and Williams College. Organizers offered Mexican champurrado to participants as they joined the line, and students walked the sidewalk with cups and passed them out to new arrivals.
As the demonstration gained momentum, chants in English and Spanish echoed across the parking lot. Picketers held their signs toward passing cars, many of which responded with supportive honks. Shoppers approaching the store received flyers explaining the Milk with Dignity program and the goals of the campaign. Before long, the line stretched across most of the storefront.
Sanza Parzybok ’28.5, who attended the picket, said the store’s reaction intensified as the crowd grew larger.
“It was crazy to see the stores’ response to the event. They sent out a lot of security, like 30 guys, a couple police, and at least two fully armed officers,” Parzybok said. “They were scanning the parking lot and guarding the store entrance.”
Stevenson explained that supporters hope the program will guarantee farmworkers a role in shaping the conditions on the farms where they work.
“If Hannaford were to join, the Milk with Dignity program would institute a farmworker-written code of conduct with a 3rd-party monitoring body,” Stevenson said.
Throughout the afternoon, students who were new to MJaM introduced themselves to organizers. Several attendees said they first learned about the program during the Middlebury Migration Conference in October, where dairy workers spoke about their lives on Vermont farms. The event became an entry point for many students who later chose to join the picket.
“Standing with farmworkers and the Middlebury community showed me what real solidarity looks like,” Omar Jimenez Jr. ’27 said.
Jimenez Jr. said hearing workers speak at the event strengthened his motivation to participate.“Their courage in speaking out about abuse and inequality is powerful,” he said.
Some students stood near the entrance to distribute materials, while others held large banners facing Route 7. The chants and activity created a strong presence along the front of the store.
Stevenson said the turnout demonstrated how students can engage in local organizing and collaborate with the broader community.
“It was powerful to gather together and remember that we are part of a larger community in Addison County and that we have power through collective action to fight for human rights and dignity,” Stevenson said.
As the event came to a close, supporters shared tamales and champurrado. Several people stayed to talk even after the picket formally ended. Students helped pack up materials and exchanged contact information with organizers. Community members also discussed upcoming events and ways to remain involved with Migrant Justice.
Migrant Justice organizers said they plan to continue hosting demonstrations, educational events, and outreach across Vermont until the company adopts the program. MJaM plans to keep partnering with the statewide organization as the campaign continues. Organizers noted that sustained participation from students, residents, and farmworkers will remain essential in the effort to bring Hannaford into the Milk with Dignity program.
