Processor - Articles | Dairy Foods

Shelves and pallets full of products in the Smith Brothers Farm distribution center.

Inside the Plant

Delivery is big business for Smith Brothers Farms

Company milk delivery drivers maintain “legendary” status in the local area.

January 28, 2026

Our trip to Smith Brothers Farms included two stops: one was a visit to the Kent, Wash., plant, where the company processes milk. Following this visit, we traveled 20 minutes to Federal Way, Wash., to check out the company’s distribution center, the origin of all Smith Brothers Farms’ home delivery services, which is the pillar of many communities.

Left to right: Smith Brothers Farms CEO Dusty Highland, Vice President Todd Behan, Chief Growth Officer and Head of Home Delivery Michelle Hunt and Craig Koester posing in front a delivery truck.

Processor Profile: Smith Brothers Farms

Smith Brothers Farms’ unique business model delivers daily to customers

One-hundred-five-year-old company is much more than just a milk processor.

Brian Berk

January 19, 2026

From 1905 to the 1990s, home delivery was common for dairy processors, but popularity declined as customers turned to supermarkets. While many manufacturers focused solely on processing, Smith Brothers Farms maintained its delivery service and remains strong today, despite competition from Amazon and Costco nearby.

Salt & Straw breaks into the ice cream scene

April Miller

March 19, 2012

Each flavor made by Salt & Straw Ice Cream includes local, organic and sustainable ingredients. The Portland, Ore.-based company opened in May 2011 with the goal of featuring the “best Oregon has to offer, through ice cream.” The owners call their business a “farm-to-cone” company.

Candy bars to ice cream bars: How Mars makes the transition

James Carper

February 16, 2012

A cutting in an ice cream plant is rather like reading the reviews after the opening-night performance of a concert. The quality control team (the critics) looks at the finished product and packaging created by the production team (the orchestra). QC reviews whether the process went according to plan.

Processor of the Year

Kraft receives award at Dairy Forum

January 17, 2012

Jim Durkin accepts the Processor of the Year award on behalf of Kraft Foods Inc.

Beer Cheese Comes in New Flavors

Romy Schafer

January 11, 2012

Introducing a new product in the dairy foods industry is “a tough business,” says Randall Mitchell, chief executive officer of Smoky Mountain Cheese, Seymour, Tenn. “There’s nothing easy about it.”

What A Dairy Processor Wants

Tom Imbordino

January 10, 2012

We speak to many dairy processors throughout the year. We see you at trade shows, conferences and in your offices and plants. By listening to you, we learn about issues and challenges critical to your business success, as well as your thoughts about Dairy Foods.