From Culture to Cars

The last batch of cottage cheese was filled at the Upstate Farms Cooperative plant in Buffalo, N.Y., last month, and the plant may soon house a car museum. Upstate is relocating to a state-of-the-art, $32 million plant and has signed a pact to sell the downtown property to the Buffalo Transportation/Pierce Arrow Museum.

Kraft to Shutter Visalia Plant

Kraft Foods told employees last month it will close a cultured products plant in Visalia California and consolidate production into the company’s newer, larger plant in Tulare. The Visalia plant employs 160 and about half of those jobs will be eliminated by the April 2007 closing.

Chevre Behind Bars

The Colorado Department of Corrections claims to have the largest goat dairy operation in the state. No cheese will be made at the new farm operation East Canon Prison Complex, but most of the milk from its 600 goats will be sold to cheese and butter makers.

Danone,Yakult In India

A joint venture between Japan’s Yakult Honsha and the Danone Group of France, is establishing its first manufacturing plant in India for fermented milk. The facility is expected to be completed and on line in 2007.

Very Friendly

Friendly Ice Cream Corp., has used cone days and other efforts to raise more than $1 million to help disabled people through Easter Seals. Over the past 25 years, the company has raised more than $23 million for Easter Seals.