Tillamook doubles production

TILLAMOOK, Ore.-Driven by growing market demand, the 96-year-old TiIlamook County Creamery Association has approved a $50-million expansion of its cheese plant in Boardman, Ore.

Construction is expected to be complete by 2006, and production in the new expansion is to begin in 2007. It will enable the creamery to double the amount of cheese it produces at its Boardman plant from 65 million pounds to 130 million pounds at full capacity. The expansion will also result in the hiring of 50 additional employees. The plant employs 65 today.

"Our major customers are growing," said Christie Lincoln, communications manager for the cooperative. "Successful grocery retailers expect us to keep pace with the growth."

The 85,000-square-foot Boardman plant, called the Columbia River Processing Facility, opened in 2001. It is located alongside the Columbia River in Morrow County, about four hours from the cooperative's Tillamook plant. The facility includes a milk-receiving room, a quality assurance laboratory and 30-day cold storage. The expansion will add 65,000 square feet to the plant, Lincoln said.

Workers at the Boardman facility will produce more of the same cheeses-Medium Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby, Colby Jack and Mozzarella.

Cheddar makes up about 85 percent of the cooperative's production. The co-op also makes stirred-curd cheeses, butter, yogurt, sour cream and ice cream. Sale of shredded varieties -Queso Blend, Mexican Blend, Italian Blend and Fancy Shred-has also contributed to market demand, along with an 8-ounce smoked medium Cheddar and sliced cheeses.

After the expansion is complete the cooperative's combined production at its Tillamook and Boardman facility will be 190 million pounds a year.

Tillamook Cheese is sold at major retailers around the country, said Lincoln, and while the cooperative is prepared to meet the continued demand, Lincoln said it has no planned marketing initiative to target new markets or particular regions of the country.

The cooperative is owned by 150 family farms, and those farms will benefit from the expansion, Lincoln said.

"It will give our members the opportunity to increase their milk production and continue to grow," she said.

Jim McMullen, Tillamook's president and chief executive officer said the additional cows needed to keep the expanded plant going at full capacity could create an additional 270 dairy jobs and $135 million in dairy investments.

"We also felt that it would protect dairying as a way of life for ourfuture generations and enhance opportunities for our employees and everyone associated with TCCA," said George Allen, chairman of the TCCA board of directors.

Tillamook contracts with four Morrow County dairies to supply the plant with milk. Lincoln said Tillamook likely will need more milk producers to keep the Boardman plant at capacity-as many as an additional 20,000 cows.

In other news, the cooperative is still caught up in a court battle with the Tillamook Country Smoker, as Gourmet News reported in the October and November 2004 issues. The co-op issued a cease-and-desist order in 2001 in an effort to have the company stop using the name. The issue has not been resolved, said Lincoln.

"We are still in process of appeal," she said.

Copyright United Publications, Inc. Apr 2005
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