From a small 5,000-square-foot plant in Springfield, Ill., solely focused on making ice cream mixes, to a large, 126,000-square-foot plant in Dubuque, Iowa, that processes nearly 40 million pounds of fluid milk a month, Prairie Farms Dairy boasts a wide range of manufacturing operations.

Milk has a proven legacy of providing health and wellness benefits through its 13 essential nutrients that solidifies its place in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and has earned endorsements from leading health organizations.

DMI, Rosemont, Ill., which is funded by dairy farmers through the checkoff program, said it is assisting in product development, consumer insights, nutritional consulting, technical and formulation support and introductions to perspective marketplace partners.
 

Smith Brothers Farms, a fluid milk processor, has been selected to receive the Plant of the Year award from Dairy Foods. Its plant was one of 12 dairy processing plants throughout the United States nominated by Dairy Foods. 

Organic dairy advertising volume set a number of records; ice cream and cream cheese manufacturing account for the strongest demand on national cream supplies; and cheese production was reported slower as reduced volumes of milk were available for manufacturing, according to the USDA's Dairy Market News.