Economy

Chobani Brings Greek Yogurt Facility To Idaho

In December 2012, the New York-based Greek yogurt company began making yogurt at it’s new manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho.The company announced in 2011 plans to build it’s second U.S. manufacturing plant. Chobani chose Twin Falls. The company has said it plans to hire up to 500 people once the facility starts operating at full capacity.Hamdi Ulukaya founded the Chobani Greek Yogurt company in 2005. According to Chobani’s website, Ulukaya threw himself into the yogurt business after he saw an ad for a recently shuttered Kraft yogurt plant in his local newspaper. He purchased that facility.By 2007, Chobani Greek Yogurt could be found in New York grocery stores. By 2010, it became the number one selling Greek yogurt in the country.

Idaho Dairymen's Association Expects Flat Market In 2017

Boise State Public Radio News

Published January 3, 2017 at 12:20 PM MST

Idaho’s dairy industry will be watching the new Trump administration’s trade policy, as one of the state’s biggest sectors is bracing for a flat year.

The president of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association told an agriculture conference last month that any increase in Idaho’s milk production would be exported abroad.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts that by November of this year, dairy exports will be 8.9 billion pounds – that’s slightly higher than last November’s 8.7 billion pounds.

Dairymen President Bob Naerebout tells the Twin Falls Times News he expects milk production to increase by about 2 or 3 percent. Those figures line up with annual increases over the past several years and translate to an additional 500,000 to 750,000 pounds of milk each day.

Naerebout says Idaho needs to add a processing facility on par with the Chobani plant every year to use the additional milk. With domestic dairy needs being satisfied, trade policy has become the professional association’s top concern.

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Idaho Dairymen's Association Expects Flat Market In 2017

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