http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-986227.mp3
New Orleans, LA – Recently, popular Washington Parish dairyman Warren Smith awoke in the middle of the night to the explosion that destroyed the dairy plant situated next to his house. This is where he and his wife Sandra make their famous Smith Creamery products. Fortunately, no one was injured. With necessity as the mother of invention, allies are rallying around the Smiths. Market shoppers have shown an outpouring of support, with cash donations. And in a welcome development, larger and competing Kleinpeter Dairy has taken the Smiths under its wing. The results are keeping Smiths' products in stores while Sandra and Warren negotiate with insurance companies. Will they return to farmers markets? Only time will tell. In the meantime, other nearby dairies are filling gaps at farmers markets to meet demand, thus keeping homegrown businesses growing; and that is dairy good news. For WWNO, this is Richard McCarthy.