Muller Yogurt Plant in Batavia Closes

A yogurt plant in Batavia that opened to great hoopla and was one of the plants in the yogurt boom in New York state is closed.

The Associated Press reported PepsiCo Inc. and German dairy giant Theo Muller Group ended production Thursday. The plant opened in 2013.

Officials said the plant didn't meet expectations in a competitive and dynamic marketplace.

The Associated Press states national milk marketing cooperative Dairy Farmers of America has agreed to purchase the Muller Quaker Dairy, co-op spokeswoman Monica Massey said Thursday. She said the cooperative is exploring several milk handling and manufacturing options for the plant.
 
The Associated Press says about 64 of the plant's 170 jobs are expected to be cut and transition assistance will be offered. He said the others are expected to be retained by the dairy cooperative.
 
New York has been the top U.S. yogurt producer for several years because of the booming Greek yogurt sector. Other plants in the state are run by Chobani, Fage and Byrne.

The Muller plant was mentioned as one of the success stories in the Finger Lakes region proposal for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's recent economic development competition called Upstate Revitalization Initiative.

It was announced Thursday -- the same day the plant closed -- that the Finger Lakes region was one of three winners in the state economic development competition. The region will receive $500 million over five years for projects in the area.

Muller yogurt has been a popular brand in Europe for more than a century. Muller products including dessert-inspired flavors like Raspberry Brownie Supreme and Dulce de Leche Delight will disappear from U.S. shelves after current stocks are sold, the PepsiCo spokesman told the Associated Press.

What Does this Greek Yogurt Boom Mean to NY Farmers?

This graphic is from Reuters Business

Here's a story by North Country Public Radio http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/22362/20130716/will-the-greek-yogurt-boom-help-dairy-farmers about how the Greek yogurt boom is affecting New York farmers.

You also can read the story I wrote on the same subject in 2012 at  http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/popularity_of_greek-style_yogu.html at this link. And the Associated Press covered the same issue http://blog.syracuse.com/farms/2012/01/greek_yogurt_great_for_farmers.html also back in 2012.

New York to Participate in Greek Yogurt Program in School Lunches

News from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer:

  

New York state has been selected as one of four states to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Greek Yogurt Pilot Program.

The program will allow school districts to test Greek yogurt on their menus beginning in September. U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, who championed the program, said yogurt will provide a high-nutrition and protein alternative for children in their school lunches.

On Monday, the USDA issues a solicitation to buy Greek yogurt for delivery to participating school districts. The USDA seeks both four-ounce single serving containers of flavored yogurt and 32-ounce containers of nonflavored yogurt that could be used in various recipes.

The other states involved in the yogurt programs are Tennessee, Idaho and Arizona. Schumer said New York was a perfect selection for the program because of the large number of Greek yogurt plants (Chobani, Fage, Alpina and Muller) making the product right in New York state.

“Starting this school year, students across the state will be balancing New York-made Greek yogurt on their lunch trays. I am thrilled that New York schools will have a chance to participate in the first-ever Greek yogurt pilot program in September," Schumer said.

"Schools in New York, and the other three states participating in the pilot, will soon see that Greek yogurt is an affordable and nutritious high-protein option for their menus,” Schumer said. “I am proud to see this pilot plan reach this final step, because it’s a boon for New York yogurt and dairy industries, and it’s beneficial for the health of our kids.”

Companies wishing to bid on the yogurt contracts have until July 22. The Farm Service Agency will evaluate bids and make awards by the end of July.
 

What to do With Greek Yogurt Waste

Go to http://modernfarmer.com/2013/05/whey-too-much-greek-yogurts-dark-side/ to read a story in Modern Farmer magazine about getting rid of the whey waste leftover from the manufacture of Greek yogurt.

And here's another story about the same subject from MSN.