Whey solid production plant in California
Lakes, the Minnesota-based farmer-owned dairy cooperative, have
opened a €151 million cheese and dairy products plant in Tulare
County, US.
Japanese trading company Mitsui & Co, together with Land O' Lakes, the Minnesota-based farmer-owned dairy cooperative, have opened a €151 million cheese and dairy products plant in Tulare County, US.
"If you were looking for a place to build a world-class cheese plant, you don't have to go any further than Tulare," said Chris Policinski, executive vice president at Land O' Lakes, reports The Fresno Bee.
According to the report,Tulare County's milk was valued at $1.1 billion last year, making it the first billion-dollar commodity in California.
The 450,000-square-foot plant in Tulare employs 120 people. As part of its first phase, the plant is churning out 120 million pounds of mozzarella cheese and 75 million pounds of whey solids, a dairy product used as a thickening and foaming additive in food products including infant formula, nutritional drinks and ice cream.
The second phase of the plant is expected to be completed in 2004 and will boost its production to 240 million pounds of cheese and 150 million pounds of whey.
