News
Construction begins on $100 million organic dairy plant in Missouri
Aurora Organic Dairy broke ground Thursday at Columbia, Missouri, for a $100 million processing plant.
Milk for the plant will come from various sources, according to Marc Peperzak, company founder and CEO.
“Initially, this milk probably will come from our operations either in Colorado or Texas,” Peperzak told Brownfield Ag News following the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday. “We are developing more dairy supply for ourselves in Nebraska; or it may come from other producers here in Missouri or other producers in this region.”
Missouri Dairy Association Executive Director Dave Drennan calls the Aurora Dairy construction “huge news for Missouri’s dairy industry.”
Processing won’t begin for another two years, so Drennan says it’s premature to speak in terms of the state’s producers supplying the plant.
“Short term, it’s the publicity we’re going to get for our dairy industry that is the positive,” Drennan told Brownfield Ag News at the plant construction site. “Long term, I hope there are some direct benefits for our producers.”
The company has come under scrutiny in a Washington Post article questioning whether Aurora’s grazing practices actually qualify the company’s milk as organic.
“We meet and exceed the 30 percent requirement [for dry matter intake from pasture]; we meet and exceed the 120 days [ per year required for cows to be on pasture],” Peperzak told Brownfield. “Our milk is 100 percent organic.”
The article prompted one person to attend the groundbreaking displaying a sign that said, “Not organic, not my milk.”
Aurora says the Columbia plant will employ 90 people initially and as many as 150 within five years.
Aurora Organic Dairy produces store-brand organic milk and butter for U.S. retailers.
AUDIO: Marc Peperzak (4 min. MP3)
AUDIO: Dave Drennan (3 min. MP3)
Organic ? Don’t you need organic milk to have a organic milk plant?