Multi-state, multi-agency effort saves millions of pounds of milk from spoilage, officials say

MIDDLEBURY CENTER, Pa. (WHTM) — When a New York State dairy plant closed, 3.6 million pounds of milk had to go somewhere to avoid going to waste.

State officials heralded efforts Friday to get that milk to plants in Pennsylvania, including one in Berks County, to avoid spoilage.

The Great Lakes Cheese plant in Franklinville, New York, about two hours north of a Tioga County plant where Pennsylvania officials held a press conference.

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said it took team effort between agencies from both the Empire State and Keystone State and the private sector to get 3.6 million pounds of milk processed and to market.

The effort between PennDOT, NYSDOT, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and private sector partners in the dairy industry redirected the milk they say was at risk of spoilage to a processing plant in less than 24 hours.

“This is an incredible story of building bridges between the public and private sectors,” said Carroll. “Thanks to the work of everyone here, millions of gallons of milk that would have potentially been wasted will be safely transported to Pennsylvania processors.”

“One plant closing, even a temporary one, can cost millions in lost products, and have ripple effects down to the empty grocery shelves at the end of the supply chain,” Redding said.

“We’re grateful to our neighbors at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Department of Transportation, our New York State Department of Transportation, and all of our partners for their swift action in temporarily modifying hauling regulations to allow for the transportation of New York milk,” Richard A. Ball, New York State Agriculture Commissioner, said. “This not only mitigates the impact to our dairy farmers in New York, but also ensures minimal disruption in the supply chain for consumers.”

Milk was transported to five plants in Pennsylvania, including the Dairy Farmers of America in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, and plants in Tioga County, Lawrence County, Bradford County, and Lycoming County.