Darigold opens its US$1B dairy processing facility

USA – Darigold, a marketing arm of the Northwest Dairy Association (NDA), has opened its new facility at Pasco, producing butter and powdered milk products for customers across the USA and in some 30 countries worldwide.

According to the company, the new plant will process up to 8 million pounds of milk per day from more than 100 regional farms and is expected to employ nearly 200 people directly, while also supporting up to 1,000 jobs in total through transportation, warehousing, and farm labour.

Allan Huttema, President and CEO of Darigold, said, “Dairy demand continues to grow, both here at home and abroad. Our new Pasco facility solidifies the Northwest as a global dairy leader and reflects our farmer-owners’ long-term commitment to good stewardship, high-quality production, and maintaining dairy farming as a way of life.”

Additionally, the new Pasco facility is also central to Darigold’s alignment with USA Dairy’s 2050 stewardship goals.

It incorporates a variety of innovative technologies and conservation strategies that are projected to provide a significant reduction in carbon emissions.

Key sustainability features include Low-emission burner technology in milk dryers, which significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions.

Additionally, a partnership with the City of Pasco has expanded its Process Water Reuse Facility (PWRF), which includes an anaerobic digester, allowing for the responsible treatment and reuse of agricultural wastewater.

The facility is strategically located within the multimodal Port of Pasco and is close to more than 100 member farms, which creates transportation efficiencies and reduces logistics-related emissions, including road miles.

Jean Ryckman, President of the Port of Pasco Commission, expressed admiration for Darigold and its dairy producers, describing the opening of the Pasco facility as a significant milestone.

She highlighted the project’s contribution to the Port of Pasco’s long-standing role in supporting agriculture and food processing in Franklin County.

Ryckman also emphasized the facility’s economic impact, noting that it would generate a substantial number of new jobs and bring fresh opportunities to the residents of Pasco and the surrounding communities.

Ryckman said, “Darigold’s Pasco facility represents an impressive level of private investment in Pasco. The project is also a prime example of what’s possible when local, state, and national leaders collaborate in the name of economic development.”

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