The Best Milk in New York State Is Quietly Hiding Inside These Upstate NY Gas Stations

Move over fancy farm stands — the best milk in New York State can actually be found inside Stewart’s Shops , a chain of humble gas stations and convenience stores scattered across Upstate New York. At the 2025 New York State Fair in Syracuse just a few weeks ago, Stewart’s Shops was officially crowned the Best Milk in New York State — for the fourth year in a row . They also took home 1st place for Best Chocolate Milk and Best Flavored Milk in the annual New York State Dairy Products Contest, a prestigious program run by Cornell University and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. This isn’t a one-off either: Stewart’s has now been recognized as New York’s best milk producer 10 times in the past 20 years . Since the NYS Fair, Stewart’s milk and ice cream have kept racking up the accolades — this time on the national stage. At the 2025 World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin , Stewart’s earned 17 awards , including: * 🥇 1st place for Eggnog, Strawberry Milk, Rainbow Sherbet, Pistachio Gelato, and Lactose-Free Milk * 🥈 2nd place for Chocolate Ice Cream, French Vanilla, Maple Walnut, Mango Dragon Fruit Sherbet, and Salty Caramel Gelato * 🥉 3rd place for favorites like Bark in the Dark, Peanut Butter Pandemonium, Dirt Cake, and even 1% Chocolate Milk Notably, Stewart’s Eggnog was named the Best of the Best in North America for the second time in three years — proving it’s not just their regular milk that New Yorkers rave about. But what makes Stewart’s Milk so good, you ask? ----------------------------------------------- Part of Stewart’s secret lies in its local roots . The company sources from 21 family-owned dairy farms in Saratoga, Rensselaer, and Washington Counties, with milk bottled at their Greenfield, NY dairy plant. From there, it’s delivered to shops within 48 hours of leaving the farm . As Stewart’s likes to put it: “If you want fresher milk, you’d have to get a cow.” Stewart’s also pays special attention to the quality of its products: * Fat Free milk is fortified with extra milk solids for a creamier taste. * Flavored milks — including chocolate, strawberry, and seasonal eggnog — come in resealable, pint-sized bottles. * Their award-winning milk also forms the base of Stewart’s ice cream, giving it that famously rich and creamy texture. So, how can I find a Stewart’s near me? --------------------------------------- Though you won’t spot any Stewart’s Shops in the five boroughs , the closest one to New York City is located in New Windsor, Orange County, NY — about 63 miles (roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by car) from Manhattan. That makes Stewart’s the perfect road trip stop if you’re heading Upstate this fall for foliage, apple picking, or a cozy weekend getaway. If you’re going even more north, you’ll find more than 350 Stewart’s locations across New York and Vermont , most tucked along highways and small towns. You can find your nearest Stewart’s with their store locator here — and maybe grab a gallon of New York’s best milk while you’re at it. Source: https://secretnyc.co/best-milk-in-new-york-state-2025-stewarts-shops/