Certification Reflects Cooperative's Commitment to Quality, Safety

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.'s (DFA) Reading, Pa., plant recently became the 10th Cooperative manufacturing facility to achieve Safe Quality Foods (SQF) Level 3 certification. SQF certification is part of a broader initiative throughout DFA's Global Dairy Products Group (GDPG), which emphasizes operational excellence, food safety and quality. A systematic effort is underway to achieve SQF certification in all 21 of DFA's manufacturing plants. Other DFA plants to recently earn this prestigious Level 3 designation include Turlock, Calif.; Fort Morgan, Colo.; Zumbrota, Minn.; Cabool, Mo.; Springfield, Mo.; and Mechanicsburg, Pa.; New Wilmington, Pa.; Winnsboro, Texas; and Plymouth, Wis. In addition, a DFA plant in Houston, Texas, has achieved Level 2 certification. "In implementing SQF standards across our network, we are demonstrating to our diverse customer base that we share their deep commitment to quality and safety," said Mark Korsmeyer, executive vice president of DFA and president of GDPG. "Consumers today have a heightened awareness about food safety and quality issues, and we are proud to have systems in place that ensure we can consistently deliver on their expectations for superior products." The SQF Program is a leading global food safety and quality certification and management system. It is designed primarily as a food safety program, and SQF is the only standard recognized by Global Food Safety Initiative that incorporates a quality certification component at Level 3. The certification allows suppliers to provide assurances that the food they produce, handle, prepare, process and distribute is of the highest quality, in addition to adhering to the strictest international and domestic food safety standards. Through GDPG, DFA produces retail cheese and butter, foodservice cheese and butter, and a wide range of dairy protein ingredients. The Cooperative's consumer brands include Borden® Cheese and Butter, Keller's® Butter and Plugra® Butter and Cache Valley Cheese, among others. GDPG also is a leading contract manufacturer of shelf-stable products for national and international food companies. 09.02.2011