Starbucks Joins Debate

News EditorIndustry News, Media

As producers, and readers of this blog, what do you think of all the media attention about companies going “BST” free? Do you think this is a good or bad move for the dairy industry? Starbucks Coffee Co. said Tuesday that it has stopped using dairy products with Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, or rBGH, in company-owned stores in Washington, Oregon, … Read More

CEO Leaves Tillamook

News EditorIndustry News

Jim McMullen, CEO of the Tillamook County Creamery Association since 2002, has resigned. McMullen’s resignation will be effective Jan. 31. He will continue working with the organization in a consulting role. The association’s board of directors plans a national search for his replacement. Cliff Brady, vice president of operations and chief operating officer, will serve as interim CEO until a … Read More

Dairy Packaging Demand

News EditorDairy Business, Research

You’ve heard about the success of single-serve milk in plastic bottles. The nation-wide initiative to place milk vending machines in schools and public areas is certainly a big part of this report from Freedonia Group, Inc. Demand for dairy packaging is projected to expand 4.1 percent annually to $4.3 billion in 2010. Growth will be fueled by favorable trends in … Read More

Cheese For The Holidays

Chuck ZimmermanCheese, Dairy Group, Nutrition

CrostiniI know we’re not a recipe site but sometimes when something looks this good you’ve got to pass it along. This is from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and a good example of the way they’re working to provide people with great ideas to combine dairy in their diet. So get your holiday cheese plan in gear.

New NMPF Board Members

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, General

Several new members were seated at the recent 2006-07 NMPF Board of Directors meeting. They include: Bill Blalock, of Cooperative Milk Producers Assn.; Les Hardesty, Jerrel Heatwole and Doug Nuttelman of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.; Rich Ghilarducci of Humboldt Creamery; Adrian Boer of Northwest Dairy Association; and Ken Nobis of Michigan Milk Producers Association (who will serve as the … Read More

Swiss Valley Purchase

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Business, Industry News

Announced Friday, Swiss Valley Farms Inc., a mid-west dairy cooperative, has purchased the Shullsburg Creamery campus in Shullsburg for $4 million. The transaction included the cheese manufacturer’s 18.4-acre campus, which has three buildings and a wastewater treatment building. The four structures total 80,058 square feet. Swiss Valley Farms has yet to decide which of its product lines would be produced … Read More

Kraft to Improve New York Plant

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Business, Products

Kraft Foods will invest more than $10 million to improve its cream cheese manufacturing plant in Lowville, N.Y. In return, Kraft will receive a state grant of up to 950-thousand dollars to assist in the purchase of machinery, equipment and related facility improvements. The announcement was made last week by New York Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue. The company plans to … Read More

Dairy Program Review

Chuck ZimmermanGovernment

Hopefully, members of the Senate Agriculture Committe were not expecting to get any clear consensus on U.S. dairy programs from the four witnesses who testified on behalf of the industry during a committee hearing in Washington on Thursday. There was some agreement between Jim Green, representing the International Dairy Foods Association, and Ken Hall of Idaho, who spoke on behalf … Read More