Hilmar Cheese Company Inc. announced plans to build a milk powder processing facility in Turlock, Calif.

“We are expanding our ingredients business to meet strong global demand for milk powders,” explains John Jeter, Hilmar Cheese Company CEO and president. “The U.S. dairy industry, and specifically California, is well positioned to be a consistent supplier to the world."

The Turlock facility will produce a variety of milk powders designed to be a primary foundation for delivering nutrition in various forms to a hungry and developing world. Milk powder is a convenient form of milk that does not require refrigeration and is simple to reconstitute. Milk powder is an easily transported and stored ingredient making it an important source of dairy for developing nations.

“With this expansion into milk powders, we are continuing our tradition of converting our high quality milk supply into the value-added products customers want,” adds Tom Ielmini, vice president, Hilmar Ingredients. “We now have customers in 50 countries and are always striving to meet their needs. This is part of a broader plan to be a larger, more dynamic global supplier.”

 Hilmar Cheese Company’s division, Hilmar Ingredients, will market the milk powder.