Shamrock Farms, Phoenix, said in March it is building a $50 million state-of-the-art dairy manufacturing facility in August County, Virginia. The plant will produce the company’s on-the-go mmmmilk and Rockin’ Refuel protein fortified milk beverages. The brand has also expanded its national business in convenience stores, grocery and quick service restaurants such as Subway, Arby’s and Einstein Brothers. The 130,000-square-foot plant is expected to open in late 2014 and will employ up to 60 people.

The All Star Dairy Association honored Brookshire Grocery Co., Tyler, Texas, with the Best Sour Cream Award, Best Buttermilk Award and the “Doc” Lawrence Most Improved Plant Award. The company also received “Exceeds Industry Standards” honors for the dairy and ice cream plants.

Dean Foods Co., Dallas, has met the requirements for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Energy Star Challenge for Industry” by reducing its energy intensity by 10% or more at 18 manufacturing locations nationwide.

Vivoli Il Gelato of Florence, Italy, in March opened its first-ever location outside of Florence in New York City on the sixth floor of Macy’s Herald Square store. The store will serve nine gelati and three sorbetti, all made fresh daily, in cups, pints and quarts.

Newly elected 2013 officers of the California Milk Advisory Board Executive Committee are Tony Louters of Merced, Perry Tjaarda of Shafter, James Netto of Hanford, Dante Migliazzo of Atwater, Jeff Wilbur of Tulare, Richard Michel of Waterford, and Richard Wagner of Escalon.

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association awarded $2,000 Myron P. “Mike” Dean Cheese Industry Scholarships to Alyssa Hangartner and Joshua Lensmire. Hangartner is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her father, Steve, works for Saputo Cheese USA. Lensmire is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His father, Don, is employed at BelGioioso Cheese Inc. Myron P. “Mike” Dean was a dairy extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin. He passed away in 1999.

WCMA awarded $2,000 supplier member scholarships to Annaliesel Hannes, a student at North Carolina State University (her father, Donald, is employed at Loma Systems); Mitchell Altmann, a student at University of Wisconsin-Stout (son of Tom Altmann, at Altmann Construction Co.); and Amanda Skarlupka, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (her father, Joe, works at Zepnick Solutions).