Processing and Manufacturing Milestones
1950–1963
Milk carton line at Dairyland, 1960s
1957
A cottage cheese plant in Ovid is purchased from Sealtest. MMPA becomes a third-party supplier of cottage cheese for a dozen brand names.
1960
MMPA becomes directly involved in milk bottling business by acquiring the assets of the Dairyland Cooperative Creamery.
1961
A small milk processing facility is purchased from Litchfield Dairy Association and merged with Dairyland operation in Carson City.
1961 Scottville plant, 1953
Moving butter at the Ovid plant, about 1965
1962
MMPA’s marketing strength became even more powerful with post-war acquisitions and cooperative mergers that cemented its commitment to milk processing and dairy products manufacturing.
Installing a new evaporator at Imlay City and a butter churn at Ovid increase the co-op’s surplus milk disposal capacity by 600,000 pounds a day.
1952
1963
Elsie Cooperative sells its entire assets, including a dry milk and cream plant, to MMPA’s Detroit market members. The plant is converted to a fluid milk bottling operation and is the cooperative’s first processing facility to operate year round.
MMPA trades the Dairyland operation for a manufacturing plant in Saranac owned by processor Wilson Company. Terms of the agreement include a full-supply contract for MMPA to continue supplying milk to Dairyland. This was the first such agreement between a major Michigan processor and MMPA.
1953
MMPA answers the Michigan governor’s appeal to purchase closing plant in Scottville, preserving market for several hundred farmers. Members selling to the Muskegon, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Grand Rapids and Upstate markets help finance the purchase to ensure an outlet for their surplus milk.
Butter packaging line at Elsie, 1956
32 | Celebrating 100 Years of Michigan Milk Producers Association
East Jordan manufacturing plant is acquired when Jordan Valley Cooperative merges with MMPA.
Crystal Falls in the Upper Peninsula was among the last of MMPA’s receiving stations to convert to bulk hauling. Celebrating 100 Years of Michigan Milk Producers Association | 33