Co-op milking for time

PALMER — The manager of a fledgling dairy cooperative says the venture could begin producing cheese from Mat-Su Valley milk products by mid-December.

Former dairy farmer Kyle Beus said the co-op has found a building suitable for a production plant and processing equipment is on its way. Topping the co-op’s list of concerns now is the potential for a lag between the scheduled Dec. 10 shutdown of Matanuska Maid Dairy and the startup of the new production facility. During any gap local dairy farmers would have no place to sell their milk.

Northern Lights Dairy in Delta Junction will continue to purchase 40 to 50 percent of the area’s milk products, Beus said.

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