The little co-op that can Tillamook County Creamery Association is growing beyond its roots in the Pacific Northwest. Meet the dairy cooperative making award-winning premium cheeses that are among the top-selling brands.
Cheesemaking is all about balance and achieving consistency in the finished product. When the cheesemaker is also a dairy cooperative, there are additional and often competing concerns to balance. The farmer members of the co-op want a fair price for their milk, but the processing side doesn’t want to overpay, lest the finished product is too expensive for the market.
There are no secrets to making award-winning cheeses. Just buy the freshest milk and hire the best cheesemakers. Tillamook invites tourists to see the process from an observation deck inside the processing plant.
It is bad enough to have one co-worker looking over your shoulder while you are trying to do your job. Imagine total strangers watching you work. That’s the situation in Tillamook, Ore., where, over the course of a year, 1 million tourists stop at the Tillamook County Creamery Association factory, climb the steps to a second-story observation deck, and watch the cheesemaking process unfold below them.
Flagsheep from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese was named the Best of Show in the 2012 competition of the American Cheese Society. The cheesemaker has locations in Seattle and New York City.
We’re in the right place at the right time. The global dairy industry is a growth sector — that much is crystal clear. At the “Future of Food” summit in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer (an event co-hosted by the dairy producer-funded Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy), speaker after speaker talked about the challenges of feeding the planet’s growing population.
Kulfi is a frozen dessert originating from India that’s similar to ice cream in appearance and taste, but is typically denser and creamier. It’s a popular dessert street-food found throughout countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Burma and in the Middle East.
As the only alcohol-infused ice cream parlor in Arizona, Lee’s Cream Liqueur is making a name for itself. The owner and creator of the 823-square-foot parlor is Lee Turner, a systems engineer by day and a dairy processor by night. The self-proclaimed ice cream enthusiast describes her treats as a cross between ice cream and gelato. The shop is located in Old Town Scottsdale in what Turner calls the “restaurant district.”
Almost everywhere you look these days you’ll find a frozen yogurt offering. Sales are up and restaurants are adding it to their menus — the industry is booming.
Atlanta-based Carvel, the United States’ first retail ice cream franchise, went back to its roots by bringing back its classic look — with a modern twist. It updated its stores and logo, and introduced new technologies.
When cultured dairy foods are manufactured correctly, they function properly as foods. They also deliver specific benefits, such as improving digestion.
In today’s world, where health and wellness takes center stage, the subject of functional cultured dairy foods typically are about consumption of the probiotic bacteria and their associated health benefits, such as improved immune function, improved digestive function and reduction of symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
Processors of cheesecakes, sweet goods and whipped toppings saw a drop in both sales and units. Frozen pudding is the exception.
September 10, 2012
The overall frozen dessert category took a hit in sales over the last year. But the frozen pudding and mousse segment saw an increase in both sales and unit sales. With the health and wellness trend continuing among Americans, it’s likely that many are looking to better-for-you options to curb their sweet tooth.
Wisconsin contest honors Gifford’s: For the third year in a row, Gifford’s Dairy, Skowhegan, Maine, was selected the Ice Cream Grand Champion in the World Dairy Expo (WDE) Championship Dairy Product Contest.
As the Mars rover Curiosity explores the terrain and seeks signs of water on the Red Planet, another explorer on another planet finds a wonderful, life-sustaining fluid.
To much fanfare and well-deserved media attention, NASA landed its Curiosity rover on Gale Crater on Mars on the evening of Aug. 5. The engineers at mission control celebrated their expertise at deploying, landing and operating the explorer remotely from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
A maker of dairy desserts acquires a line of soy-based desserts.
August 9, 2012
Privately owned Brothers International Desserts Inc., Irvine, Calif., this week said it acquired the Organic Rice Divine line of frozen desserts from Good Karma Food Technologies Inc., Prairie du Sac, Wis.
Literally. Their 'Tharp & Young on Ice Cream, An Encyclopedic Guide to Ice Cream Science and Technology' has been published.
August 13, 2012
Bruce Tharp and Steve Young, who write the On Ice Cream column for Dairy Foods, have completed "Tharp & Young on Ice Cream, An Encyclopedic Guide to Ice Cream Science and Technology.
PepsiCo marks the start of a state-of-the-art yogurt facility today that is expected to create more than 180 jobs in upstate New York.
August 2, 2012
To mark the construction of t a 350,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility, New York governor Cuomo and the top executives from Thomas Müller Group and PepsiCo signied a ceremonial steel beam in front of state and local government and community dignitaries, representatives of local and national dairy organizations, and members of local community organizations and groups.
Other dairy processors are recognized for their marketing efforts to make milk the beverage of choice for breakfast, at Halloween parties and at sporting events.
September 10, 2012
Anthony Escobar, business manager of Super Store Industries, Lathrop, Calif., is the grand prize winner in MilkPEP’s annual awards program. Escobar demonstrated strong and effective efforts to increase awareness and grow milk sales using MilkPEP programs and resources. His entries showcased multi-faceted programs supported by well-rounded marketing efforts that creatively customized MilkPEP tools to reinforce Super Store Industries’ brand.
Innovations in probiotic dairy products are on the rise. This is a reflection of the increasing demand for probiotics due to consumers’ interest in health and wellbeing. Dairy was the third most commonly named “functional food” in the 2011 Functional Foods Survey conducted by the International Food Information Council.
Consumer awareness of natural colorings in dairy foods is important. But coloring milk and dairy foods is a tricky proposition. Never fear. We look at red, yellow, blue and green color options for milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream.
Starbucks probably thought it was doing the right thing by coloring its Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino with carmine. After all, even if consumers didn’t realize it when they ordered the popular dairy-berry beverage from their friendly neighborhood barista, the coffee giant had them in mind in opting for this natural colorant over a synthetic like, say, FD&C Red #40.
When cultured dairy foods are manufactured correctly, they function properly as foods. They also deliver specific benefits, such as improving digestion.
In today’s world, where health and wellness takes center stage, the subject of functional cultured dairy foods typically are about consumption of the probiotic bacteria and their associated health benefits, such as improved immune function, improved digestive function and reduction of symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
ADI Systems’ anaerobic ADI-BVF digester treats raw process wastewater comprised of powder, cheese and high-strength salty whey before it flows into a pre-existing biological nutrient removal system.
The Ross MegaShear ultra-high shear mixer is an inline rotor/stator designed for high-volume and high-throughput deagglomeration, emulsification and homogenization requirements
Ossid, powered by Pro Mach, introduced the TVS 1000 label and barcode validation machine designed to ensure that package contents, labels and barcodes are perfectly matched.
The HC-Medium checkweigher is designed for speeds up to 250 pieces per minute. It is operated by an industrial PC (IPC) and is characterized by its 10.4-inch touch display.
Pentair Sudmo finds a solution for processors dealing with the challenges of treating high strength wastewater with its X-Flow Crossflow MBR technology.
Atlantium Technologies’ Hydro-Optic UV (ultraviolet) water treatment meets the latest FDA/PMO standards for pasteurized equivalent water and cow water reuse, enabling energy and water savings, with quick ROI.
Conveyors and palletizers don’t complain or get injured. These reliable pieces of equipment help move fresh dairy foods to the warehouse or truck quickly and efficiently.
September 18, 2012
When a consumer opens up a cup of yogurt, she might not realize how well-traveled that food is. That cup, and thousands like it, has moved quite a bit, not counting the miles between the distribution center and the supermarket.
Packaging value is the “Holy Grail” for packaging leaders across the value chain. The packaging world is still trying to break the code and we are getting closer. We have identified a number of components and tests that we can use to help us understand if the new packaging on a product refresh or a new product is worth the money.
Play a little defense by writing an effective business continuity plan. This game plan can help you cope when your world falls apart.
September 18, 2012
The “normal” business climate no longer exists. Whether you are a senior manager, a shift supervisor or just starting your career, it is important to recognize that the unexpected is the norm.
Neogen’s newly approved Soleris test (Performance Tested MethodSM certification 071203 from the AOAC Research Institute) detects microorganisms in as little as 4 hours, and only takes 24 hours to a negative result. Conventional methods can take up to 2 days.
News briefs from Delkor Systems, Bosch Packaging Technology India, Nexira, FMC Corp., Urschel Laboratories Inc., Burkert Fluid Control Systems
August 15, 2012
Dairy processing news headlines from suppliers to the industry include a new building for Delkor. Bosch Packaging and Nexira open offices in India, and FMC Corp. buys an Italian pectin source.
In dairy processiong news, suppliers to the industry announce promotions and new hires. Among the people making dairy processing news headlines are May Shana’a, Henry W. Todd, Jr, and Jon-Paul Genest.
Pack Expo, with 1,800 suppliers, is an ideal opportunity for dairy processors to find out the latest in packaging trends and technology. The show begins Oct. 28 in Chicago.
September 12, 2012
At Pack Expo 2012 dairy processors can find out the latest trends and technology in the processing and packaging industry with this comprehensive event.