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.”