Foremost Farms USA, Baraboo, Wis., is integrating cheese production from two plants located in western Wisconsin to its plants located in Appleton, Richland Center, Milan and Marshfield, Wis. On June 30, the cooperative’s Alma Center, Wis., plant will close permanently and its Waumandee, Wis., cheddar cheese plant will be idled indefinitely.

“In recent years, our members have invested over $50 million in our plant system to increase cheese production capacity, maximize throughput and enhance processing capabilities. These investments have grown our processing capacity here in Wisconsin as our members’ milk volume has grown,” says Dave Fuhrmann, president. “Last year, our members marketed a record 6 billion pounds of milk. Even though we are reducing our plant and employee numbers, we are not downsizing the volume of cheese produced by Foremost Farms or reducing our ability to handle our members’ milk. Rather, we plan to further expand Foremost Farms’ cheese production from last year’s record of 525 million pounds to an even greater level.”

The Alma Center plant, located at W12215 Highway FF, produces mozzarella cheese for foodservice markets. The closing will result in the loss of 52 jobs. About 50 employees will be indefinitely laid off at the Waumandee plant, which produces American-style cheese (primarily cheddar). The plant is located at S1856 County Road U in the Town of Waumandee.

“We recognize that this decision has a significant impact on the Alma Center and Waumandee employees and these local communities. Our employees are very dedicated and experienced, and we are working to ease the transition as much as possible by offering severance packages to the individuals who are permanently losing their jobs,” says Fuhrmann. The impacted employees can apply for limited openings at other Foremost Farms facilities.

Foremost Farms is currently evaluating sustainable product mix opportunities that will be a good fit for Waumandee’s modern infrastructure.

"We operate in a competitive, global business environment, and we continually evaluate our operational performance, product offerings and services to ensure that we remain viable and relevant for our member-owners and customers," adds Fuhrmann.

Milk from Foremost Farms’ member-farms will be directed to other dairy plants owned by the cooperative. There will be no changes in terms of milk pick-up, sampling, testing or field service.