California Dairies Inc. (CDI), the largest dairy farmer-owned cooperative in California, acquired DairyAmerica, effective January 1, 2023. DairyAmerica was recently named the Tom Camerlo Dairy Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Dairy Export Council and Dairy Foods. 

DairyAmerica is a federated cooperative currently co-owned by CDI, Agri-Mark, Inc., and O-AT-KA Milk Products. As part of the acquisition, CDI will purchase the ownership rights currently held by Agri-Mark, Inc. and O-AT-KA Milk Products, making DairyAmerica a wholly owned subsidiary of CDI.  

“This investment in DairyAmerica provides the opportunity for CDI to unlock significant synergies and represents another step towards improving efficiencies in providing world markets with high quality dairy ingredients,” said Brad Anderson, president and CEO of California Dairies, Inc. 

Under the new structure, DairyAmerica will continue to market milk powders produced by Agri-Mark, Inc. and O-AT-KA Milk Products. These marketing agreements will allow for the continued multi-origin and sustainable supply benefits currently enjoyed by DairyAmerica. 

“We continue to support the Dairy America vision,” said William Schreiber, CEO of O-AT-KA Milk Products. 

“We are pleased to be a part of this transition and have seen the benefits of DairyAmerica’s transformation under its new leadership the past two years,” added David Lynn, interim chief executive officer at Agri-Mark, Inc. 

DairyAmerica will remain under the leadership of Patti Smith, CEO, and the DairyAmerica office will remain in Fresno, Calif. 

“As we continue to transform our business, this investment by CDI provides the framework to focus on our people and processes while strengthening our global competitiveness,” said Smith.