Coca-Cola's Fairlife milk brand is making waves in New York's dairy scene. With plans to open a new production facility in Monroe County by 2025, local dairy farms see a brighter horizon. A lot of the milk for the plant will come from a group that has a farm in New York.
Natasha Sutherland, associated with Stein Farms in Leroy, highlights New York's abundant milk production, ranking it as the state's top agricultural product. Sutherland says New York has more farms than it can really handle. She's hopeful that Fairlife will use a lot of the state's milk, which would be a big change and mean more local milk is used.
The governor recently unveiled the plant's $650 million blueprint, pinning its location on Tebor Road in Webster. Fairlife's claim to fame is its specialized ultra-filtering process. This method adeptly weeds out lactose and excess sugar, enriching the milk with protein and calcium. As a result, Fairlife products outlast conventional milk.
The Dairy Farmers of America, a big group of dairy farmers, is talking about supplying milk. Even though it's not final, they might give 20% to 35% of the milk Fairlife needs. Gina Lazara, from this group, says their members will help provide some of the milk for Fairlife.
An interesting thing about Fairlife is that they're not just focusing on regular milk drinking, which has gone down since the 1970s. Sutherland applauds their innovative marketing angle targeting fitness enthusiasts and marathoners with protein shakes.
Paul Harvey from the Northeast Dairy Producers Association echoes excitement over Fairlife’s facility bringing 250 jobs to the region. He also draws attention to upcoming farm labor regulations, specifically the shift in overtime hours for farm workers starting in 2024.
The new Fairlife plant means good things for New York's milk business, bringing new ideas and money.
Photo Credit: Fairlife
Categories: New York, Business, Livestock, Dairy Cattle