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Michigan Milk rebrands Indiana cheese plant

The Michigan Milk Producers Association is rebranding a recently purchased Indiana cheese plant involved in a nationwide recall.

In February, Listeria bacteria was detected in a random test in Tennessee of Amish Classic cheese produced by the Deutsch Käse Haus plant in Indiana, which led to a nationwide voluntary recall of more than 130 name-brand and store-brands.  Sargento and others cut ties with the plant after the recall.

The Association’s Allison Stuby Miller tells Brownfield their acquisition of Deutsch Käse Haus is part of the co-op’s efforts to diversify their product portfolio and create dairy farmer-owned branded products, “We’re still producing all the same cheese types which is primarily Colby, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack and Amish Creamery varieties.  Those are sold on-site at a store at the location and also there’s private label sales.”  Stuby Miller says the plant is committed to food safety and has implemented a corrective action plan to prevent the problem in the future.

She says the new name, Heritage Ridge Creamery, is a nod to the ”Heritage Trail” in Northern Indiana which links communities, area attractions and Amish life.

MMPA purchased the Middlebury, Indiana plant last November which processes as much as 400,000 pounds of milk a day.

AUDIO: Interview with Allison Stuby Miller