Aurora Organic Dairy Officially Launches Columbia (MO) Milk Plant
The facility expands the company’s product assortment and enters
aseptic processing market
COLUMBIA, Mo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–State and local officials gathered for a special ceremony today to
officially open Aurora Organic Dairy’s 127,000 sq. ft. milk production
and storage facility. The plant is the company’s second milk bottling
facility and is expected to have created more than 100 new jobs in the
local community by year’s end.
“Aurora Organic Dairy is a great company that will ultimately bring more
than 160 quality jobs to Missouri,” Governor Mike Parson said.
“Missouri’s central location and infrastructure network are two keys to
attracting and retaining good businesses here in our state. We look
forward to supporting their growth for years to come.”
Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD) is a leading producer and processor of
retailer brand organic milk. The company is unique in that it operates
dairy farms and milk bottling facilities, ensuring the highest quality
and traceability of any organic milk product in the market. AOD grows a
portion of its own certified organic feed and pasture, raises and milks
organic cows at eight farms, and processes and packages milk at two
locations (Columbia, Mo. and Platteville, Colo.).
The new Columbia plant will help AOD deliver more organic milk products
with all the variety and convenience today’s consumers want. Its
state-of-the-art aseptic milk bottling line makes AOD one of very few
dairy plants in America to distribute shelf-stable organic milk products.
“Our company’s mission is to deliver high-quality organic milk with
integrity to everyone, everywhere,” said Aurora Organic Dairy Chief
Executive Officer Scott McGinty. “Products like these not only offer
consumers more organic product choices, but they also help expand
markets for organic milk producers. Innovation is rapidly changing the
face of dairy beverages like never before, and organic milk is no
exception.”
“This project symbolizes the advancements in agriculture and bringing
high-quality organic milk to market,” said Columbia Mayor Brian Treece.
“It also solidifies Columbia’s economic advantage for agri-business and
food manufacturing companies.”
“We can’t think of a better partner than the state of Missouri and the
community of Columbia,” McGinty added. “Our team is excited to become a
long-term contributor to this great community.”
The facility will process and package an array of products:
- Milk in a variety of single-serve and shelf-stable (aseptic) bottles.
-
Value-added dairy products, including fortified and flavored milks,
and creamers. -
Milk varieties including A2 production, organic grass-fed, Omega 3
fortified and lactose-reduced. - Extended shelf-life milk in half-gallon cartons.
ABOUT AURORA ORGANIC DAIRY
Aurora Organic Dairy is the leading producer of store-brand organic milk
and butter for U.S. retailers. Based in Boulder, Colo., it operates a
heifer farm and organic dairy farms in Colorado and Texas, as well as
organic dairy processing plants in Platteville, Colo. and Columbia, Mo.
Organic agriculture, animal care and sustainable production are the
cornerstones of AOD’s business. Its processing facilities and each of
its farms are certified organic by USDA National Organic Program
accredited certifiers and certified by Validus, a leading independent
animal welfare auditor.
AOD is involved in overseeing organic standards from cow to carton. It
monitors the entire product lifecycle, to ensure quality from its farms
to its processing facility. For more information, visit www.auroraorganic.com.
Contacts
Sonja Tuitele
(303) 222-0637
stuitele@aodmilk.com
