Dairy Processor News - Articles - Page 264

Dairy prices

Price of 500-pound Cheddar barrels rises a nickel per pound

March 30, 2012

Cheddar Cheese prices received for U.S. 40-pound blocks averaged $1.51 per pound for the week, up 1.8 cents. The price for U.S. 500-pound barrels adjusted to 38% moisture averaged $1.55 per pound, up 4.9 cents.

Acquisitions

Meijer acquires Bareman's Dairy plant; Prairie Farms acquires rights to brand

March 29, 2012

Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer, has acquired the plant operations at Bareman's Dairy, a local family owned company based in Holland, Mich. Meijer's move into dairy production will also include a more than $8 million investment to expand the Bareman's dairy plant in Holland, Mich.

In memorium

Former Dean Foods exec Howard M. Dean died on Sunday at age 74

March 29, 2012

Howard M. Dean, the grandson of the founder of Dean Foods Co., died March 25 at age 74.

George Crave, cheesemaker, Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, Waterloo, Wis.

March 28, 2012

George Crave of Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese talks about his career in cheesemaking.

Jeff Jirik, vice president, Swiss Valley Farms, Davenport, Iowa

March 27, 2012

Jeff Jirik of Swiss Valley Farms talks about his career in cheesemaking.

Year-end results

AMPI reports $2 billion in sales

March 26, 2012

Associated Milk Producers Inc. achieved sales of $2 billion last year. The 2011 performance marks the fifth consecutive year of growth in both consumer-packaged butter and cheese. The cooperative’s butter business increased 22 percent and packaged cheese sales climbed 43 percent in five years.

Dairy prices

Weekly butter prices slide up 2.8 cents

March 23, 2012

Butter prices received for 25-kilogram and 68-pound boxes meeting United States Department of Agriculture Grade AA standards averaged $1.44 per pound for the week ending March 17.

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.

Swiss Valley Farms' plant runs 24/7

A manufacturing facility in Luana, Iowa runs 24/7, every day of the year. Swiss Valley Farms produces Swiss-style cheeses, cream cheeses and whey powders.

James Carper

March 18, 2012

Northeastern Iowa was shaped by the glaciers and the Mississippi River, which makes up its eastern border. The landscape here defies the stereotype of Midwestern flatness. Rolling hills yield unexpected delights for motorists negotiating the winding county roads.

Swiss Valley Farms brings a sharp focus to cheesemaking

By exiting the fluid milk and cultured business to concentrate on cheese, Swiss Valley Farms CEO Don Boelens has turned the Iowa-based dairy cooperative into a nimble processor that can react quickly to customers’ requests.

James Carper

March 18, 2012

Swiss Valley Farms chief executive officer Donald A. Boelens was dealing with volatile milk prices and a collapsing export market in 2008-2009. Looking back, he says he knew there had to be a better management structure, one that could allow the company to take advantage of opportunities caused by price fluctuations and at the same time deal with the hardships.