I was buried in annual reports this month while we were compiling our Dairy 100 list. What I realized is that there are no secrets. It’s how you execute business basics that determines your level of success.

The World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest received 1,000 entries in 71 classes, including cheese, ice cream, butter, sour cream, yogurt, milk, cottage cheese and more.
 

Dairy processing isn’t getting any easier. The business changes every day. Owners of dairy plants deal with new regulations, new equipment, new products and new hires.

Seventeen U.S. dairy processors, accounting for 68% of U.S. milk production, have committed to voluntary best practices for enhanced dairy traceability established by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, it was announced last month.

A number of tests have been used traditionally to evaluate the quality of raw milk, including, but not limited to, somatic cell counts (SCC), different types of bacterial counts including the standard plate count (SPC) and tests for the presence of drug residues and added water.

Organic processed products certified in the United States or Korea can now be labeled as organic in either country, the U.S. Trade Representative announced in July.

Nestlé (based in Switzerland), Saputo (Canada) and Dean Foods (Dallas) are the three largest dairy processors in North America, according to the 21st annual Dairy 100.

The fluid milk processor from Kent, Wash., was one of 12 dairy processors nominated for the Dairy Foods’ Plant of the Year. Visitors to dairyfoods.com in the month of June made their selections, casting more than 2,900 votes. Smith Brothers Farms, a 90-year-old independent processor and home delivery company, received the most votes.

The Milk Processor Education Program has appointed Julia Kadison as Chief Executive Officer. She held the position of Interim CEO/Vice President of Marketing for MilkPEP, following the resignation of Vivian Godfrey in November 2013.

Tarentaise Reserve from Farms for City Kids Foundation in Vermont was named “Best of Show” in the 2014 American Cheese Society competition. Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company from California was awarded second place overall.