Byrne Dairy is wrapping up its 90th anniversary year with a sizable investment in its future. Byrne’s DeWitt plant was one of 35 awardees of the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant.
The Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant will help pay for specialized equipment upgrades so regional dairy processors can maximize their capacity and increase the use of regionally sourced milk. The NE-DBIC announced the grant recipients Nov. 8.
“With total funding of $12,287,001 across eight states, individual awards range from $25,852 to $1 million. Those selected for awards represent processors of all sizes: from farmstead creameries to multi-state businesses and co-ops,” read the NE-DBIC announcement.
Byrne Dairy produces Aseptic Half and Half at Byrne DeWitt.
Byrne Dairy to expand ESL, aseptic operations
With its award of $1 million, Byrne DeWitt will install an Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) processing system dedicated to current and future extended shelf-life (ESL) and aseptic production of milk and cream.
“We’re grateful to NE-DBIC for recognizing the importance of this processing expansion,” said Carl Byrne, president of Byrne Dairy. “Increasing our processing capacity is good news for farmers in the Northeast who supply the milk. Milk and cream products made from milk supplied by Northeast producers will be sold to consumers throughout the Eastern United States and beyond.”
The grant stems from a recommendation of the Northeast Dairy Taskforce to invest heavily in “existing successful track-record processors positioned to scale production quickly.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded the NE-DBIC $20 million to “address the stability and viability of Northeast regional dairy.”
“This funding will expand markets for dairy producers, ensure a steady supply of dairy products to consumers, and make significant contributions to the region’s economy,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt.
Byrne is one of five Tier 1 processors (handling over 100,000 pounds of milk per day) to receive funding and the only New York state-based Tier 1 processor. Agri-Mark received awards for facilities in Massachusetts and Vermont, and Pennsylvania processors Clover Farms and Turner Dairy Farms received funding as well.
About Byrne Dairy, Inc.
Since 1933, Byrne Dairy has been producing quality dairy products in Central New York. Working with local family farms, Byrne Dairy produces extended shelf-life and aseptic milks and creams, as well as ice cream. Byrne operates an extended shelf-life and aseptic plant in East Syracuse, New York; an ice cream plant in Syracuse, New York; and an extended shelf-life plant in Cortlandville, New York. Byrne Dairy products are available throughout the Northeast and in many areas across the United States.
