Umpqua Dairy Products Co. does not let demographics or geography decide its fate. Sure, it’s located in a rural area far from large population centers. But this third-generation family-owned dairy processor of Grade A products and ice cream is doing well in its niche. It wins national awards for product quality and for its processing. Read “That’s how you sell milk."
Quality is a word bandied about in the dairy industry. What does quality mean? Tedd Wittenbrink of Randolph Associates takes a stab at defining the word. In "Today's definition of quality in dairy plants" he writes: “Quality in finished dairy products means consistency. Unlike fine wines, one batch of a dairy product should not be deemed a superior vintage. The goal is that every bottle of milk, every cup of yogurt and every pint of ice cream should be the same every time.” There is also quality in ingredients, processing, transportation and food safety.