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DFA opens new whey products plant in Penn.

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Dairy Farmers of America's new whey products plant in New Wilmington, Penn., is now open for business. The plant, under construction for more than a year, is adjacent to DFA's Farmers Cheese Plant, according to a release from the company.

Farmers Cheese is one of the nation's largest single-site Italian cheese manufacturers and suppliers of whey solids.

The new facility will convert whey, a by-product of cheese-making, into ingredients for industrial and food products, said Lonnie Spurgeon, chief operating officer for DFA Mozzarella Cheese and Butter/Powder Products, in the release.

The project is a joint effort of the strategic alliance between DMV USA in La Crosse, Wis., and DFA. DMV USA is a division of DMV International of Veghel, the Netherlands, which is a part of Campina Melkunie, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the European community, the release said.

The expansion of the New Wilmington facility will nearly double the 36 million pounds of whey powder the plant now produces per year. Farmers Cheese currently processes sweet whey powder marketed through the partnership.

Currently, the plant is producing whey products, but future plans call for the plant to produce premium demineralized whey powder that meets requirements for domestic and international sales.

"We are installing technology somewhat differently from any other in the United States. This project includes new technology for electrodialysis (mineral salt removal), and high concentration and crystallization of whey. A new spray dryer, with an 80-foot vertical chamber, has state-of-the-art configuration, designed to maintain product integrity, consistent drying and quality control," Spurgeon said in the release.

The demineralized whey project capitalizes on experience and resources made possible through the strategic relationship with DMV USA.

Long term, the project establishes another link to future world markets.

"There's worldwide demand for a high-quality supply of demineralized whey. But it's up to us to make it work. The goal, like everything else we do, is to maximize returns to our member-owners.

"The project carries plenty of potential, but no guarantees," Spurgeon said in the release.

DFA is a dairy marketing cooperative that markets milk for 22,000 dairy farmer members in 43 states.

DFA supplies milk to bottling and manufacturing plants that produce a complete line of dairy products and food components for consumers in the U.S. and around the world.

DFA is a combination of four dairy cooperatives, including Mid-America Dairymen, a cooperative formerly based in Springfield. Earlier this year, DFA established its headquarters in Kansas City, moving several Mid-America Dairymen officials from the Springfield headquarters.

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