Tillamook, Ore.-based Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) has appointed Harold Strunk as its new president and chief executive officer. With more than 25 years of consumer packaged-goods experience, Strunk has joined the dairy cooperative from Eagle Family Foods Inc., where he simultaneously served as executive vice president of sales and international vice president and general manager of the Canadian division. As executive vice president of sales, he was responsible for all U.S. retail, special channel and foodservice sales activities. His duties as vice president of international included sales, marketing and supply chain for all international businesses.

Rosemont, Ill.-based National Dairy Council (NDC), the nutrition education and research arm of the Dairy Checkoff Program, and the Beef Checkoff Program teamed up in July for a nutrition symposium to highlight how they work together to help protect and promote the nutritional benefits of their products. The symposium was held at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Summer Conference in Denver.

The U.S. House of Representatives late last month passed its version of the 2007 Farm Bill, which contains a compromise dairy package reflecting a number of initiatives supported by Washington, D.C.-based International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). The bill essentially extends dairy programs from the 2002 Farm Bill, but also includes several key reform ideas, such as dairy forward contracting and a commission to improve federal milk pricing policies. Also supporting the bill is Kansas City, Mo.-based Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). For more information, visit www.idfa.org and www.dfamilk.com.

Hiram, Ohio-based Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. has announced it will build a cheese processing plant in New York to replace an existing plant adjacent to the site. The new plant in Adams, N.Y., will be 142,000 square feet and will employ about 90 people. It will enable the company to more than double the production capacity at the current plant in Adams, which Great Lakes Cheese bought in 1984. The company says construction should be completed by April 2009.

Utica, Ohio-based Velvet Ice Cream Co. Inc. was recently honored by Columbus Business First as one of the largest women-owned businesses in the central Ohio region. The company is majority owned by Luconda Dager, Joanne Dager, Andre Dager and Tatla Dager, and was ranked 14th on the list of 25 women-owned businesses, according to 2006 company revenues.

After almost a year of construction, LaFarge, Wis.-based Organic Valley Family of Farms’ new eco-friendly $17.5 million dollar distribution center is ready for business. A shipment of Organic Valley butter, the first product to be stored in the warehouse, arrived June 21. Organic Valley held a grand opening celebration for the new facility last month.

The Grafton Village Cheese Co., Grafton, Vt., has announced it is expanding its award-winning artisanal cheddar cheese business to include another production plant; the end result will double its production to 3 million pounds of cheese a year. The new plant, which will include a retail store, is slated to open in early 2008.

The California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF), Davis, Calif., is accepting nominations through September 21 for the 4th annual William C. Haines Dairy Science Award — a recognition that honors individuals who work in support of dairy science. U.S. and international scientists who have made a significant contribution to dairy science and the betterment of the dairy industry through research and development in the field of chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, technology, nutrition and/or engineering are eligible for the award. For more information, visit www.cdrf.org .