Pure Delite
Brooks and Katie Long at the Deliteful Dairy in Williamsport.
Williamsport’s “new old fashioned” Deliteful Dairy is the result of two centuries of family farming
By April Bartel
For nearly two centuries, the Long family worked on the same stretch of rolling farmland in Williamsport; tending animals, raising crops, and adapting to the changing realities of agriculture. The 157-acre property has been in the family since Isaac Long bought it in 1831.
In 2016, Brooks and Katie Long purchased the land from Brooks’ grandparents, making them the seventh generation in this legacy, blending traditional techniques with modern sensibilities. Under their stewardship, Deliteful Dairy is a blossoming farmstead creamery and café (“cow-fé”) where visitors can sip cream-line milk, nosh on handcrafted cheeses, and watch cows graze beyond the porch railings.
Milk and cheese are among the specialties at the Deliteful Dairy.
While the farm was a commercial dairy for decades, the vision evolved. In 2019, the Longs opened an on-site creamery, taking back control of production to ensure that customers get quality, grass-fed dairy products that go from cow-to-consumer within their native origin.
Brooks says, “We didn’t like that (the dairy industry) was over-processing a lot of the stuff.” That reality inspired transformation. “My favorite thing about what I do is being able to provide a fresh, local product to the community around us.”
Inside the Deliteful Dairy are classic farm products, everything from farm grown meats to tomato preserve.
Eschewing the ultra-high-temperature methods common in industrial dairy processing, Deliteful Dairy uses “slow vat pasteurization” at lower temperatures. The resulting milk, Long explains, is “basically as close to raw as we can legally sell in Maryland.” It is also non-homogenized, allowing the cream to rise naturally to the top.
The Longs have bred A2A2 genetics for more than a decade, too. According to research published by the National Library of Medicine and other reputable health organizations, A2 milk contains a different beta-casein protein than conventional milk. Studies suggest that people sensitive to dairy may experience fewer digestive discomforts when consuming A2 milk. Long says customers’ feedback seems to confirm the claim.
Down on the Farm
Just a mile from Interstate 81, a vintage milk truck greets visitors at the farm entrance, a reminder of the days when dairy deliveries arrived directly at neighborhood doorsteps. Inside, broad live-edge oak tables and a matching serving counter add natural warmth to the airy shop and café. The wood came from an ancient tree that once grew on the property, preserving another piece of the farm’s history.
There’s a trove of locally crafted items. Teas, preserves, seasonings, woodcrafts, and artisan goods from neighboring makers complement fresh eggs, butter, frozen meat, and slices of indulgent cheesecakes alongside the farm’s own milk and aged cheeses.
Cheese production is a hallmark of the operation, a rarity among family farms. Large viewing windows allow guests to watch the cheesemaking. Their best-selling “Drunken Crab” cheddar combines local collaboration with Maryland flavor. Curds are washed in Antietam Brewery’s Lil’ Ben’s Milk Stout before the wheels are coated in Old Bay seasoning and aged. Another standout is the “Bovi-lone,” a provolone-style cheese aged into a firmer, sharper profile. Other offerings include Havarti, baby Swiss, pepper jack, parmesan-style “1831 Reserve,” and fresh cheddar curds in flavors ranging from dill and ranch to spicy pickle.
“My favorite thing about what I do is being able to provide a fresh, local product to the community around us.”
—Brooks Long
“We do everything ourselves, on site, with our hands and our milk,” says Long. “So, we know exactly where it was and how it was made.” During grazing season, the heavy cream takes on a distinctly buttery yellow hue from the cows’ grass-rich diet.
The bottled milk lineup includes whole cream-line milk as well as skim milk, chocolate, strawberry, and cookies-and-cream varieties. Around the holidays, customers line up for the farm’s rich eggnog. Around the area, folks can find Deliteful Dairy products at coffee shops, bakeries, and groceries stores such as Martin’s, River Bottom Roasters, and Gordon’s Grocery.
The eatery expands the experience beyond the dairy case. Signature paninis showcase the farm’s cheeses in combinations like the “Ham-varti” with mustard and onion or the “Cowi-fornia,” layered with turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and baby Swiss. Add a side of fried cheese curds, Kutztown soda, and a bag of Route 11 chips, or skip right to dessert.
The place features hand-dipped ice cream from nearby Misty Meadows Farm Creamery. It’s a perfect excuse to gather on the shaded porch with family and friends. The view, overlooking pens with shaggy Highland cows, goats, donkeys, pigs, and a miniature horse is a pure bonus—especially during fireworks at the adjacent Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park campground.