Darigold has commenced construction on a $600 million facility in Pasco, Washington, dedicated to the production of butter and powdered milk products. Once fully operational, this plant is expected to process approximately 8 million pounds of milk daily from 100 local dairy farms, as stated in a press release by the Seattle-based dairy cooperative. The facility will include two specialized milk dryers and two packaging lines for powdered milk products, commonly referred to in the industry as premium proteins. It aims to produce nearly 280 million pounds of powdered milk products each year, including formulations for sensitive applications like baby formula.
Additionally, Darigold’s new plant will be equipped with two butter churns, two bulk packaging lines for butter aimed at commercial and institutional customers, and five consumer packaging lines for butter. This setup will enable the production of around 175 million pounds of butter annually. With its advantageous location near rail lines and global shipping ports, Darigold claims that the new facility will enhance transportation efficiencies for products destined for both domestic and international markets. The Pasco facility is anticipated to be operational by early 2024, with plans to hire approximately 200 employees.
“The Pasco project signifies our third major capital investment in as many years, marking the largest investment in our co-op’s 104-year history and a critical step in our ongoing strategy to expand and modernize Darigold,” stated CEO Joe Coote. The development of this facility has been two years in the making as Darigold aims to establish itself as a global player in the dairy ingredients market. The marketing and processing subsidiary of the Northwest Dairy Association is owned by over 300 family-operated dairy farms across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Darigold ranks among the largest dairy processors in the U.S., managing around 10 billion pounds of milk each year and operating 11 plants in the Northwest.
The Pasco plant will incorporate several design features that align with Darigold’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The cooperative indicates that technology will “significantly” reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from the milk dryers. Furthermore, Darigold is in talks with the City of Pasco to enhance its Process Water Reuse Facility, which utilizes anaerobic digesters to treat agricultural wastewater from local food processors, thereby generating renewable natural gas for sale in the West Coast market. The integration of new technologies and conservation strategies could potentially mitigate more than 300,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
In line with promoting health and well-being, Darigold is also exploring products enriched with nutrients like CVS calcium citrate D3 with magnesium, which could further support their commitment to quality and sustainability in dairy production. The introduction of such nutritional options may resonate well with health-conscious consumers, enhancing the product range offered by Darigold as it continues to innovate and expand.