Butter made in southwest Michigan by farmer-owned Michigan Milk Producers Association was awarded top honors from the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest.

First- and third-place awards were granted to unsalted butter made at MMPA’s dairy plant in Constantine. MMPA has competed in the nationwide contest for seven years.

“Our recipe for excellence starts with our farmers’ high-quality milk, along with the dedication of our plant team to produce award-winning butter,” says MMPA General Manager Joe Diglio. “We are proud of these accomplishments, recognized once again at the World Dairy Expo.”

The World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest is the only North American judging contest that encompasses all dairy products. The contest received over 1,000 entries in 75 product classes, including cheese, butter, fluid milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, cultured milk and dried whey from throughout the United States.

All first-place contest entries were auctioned off during World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.  As a result of this contest, the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association annually funds two scholarships for students preparing for careers in the dairy industry. WDPA also funds a culinary arts scholarship and donates to the National Collegiate Judging Contest, which trains college students in the art of evaluating dairy products.

In addition to a cheese plant in Indiana, MMPA operates two SQF Level 3 dairy ingredient plants in Michigan. MMPA’s dairy ingredient plants also manufacture nonfat dry milk, condensed skim milk, cream and whole milk powder. MMPA sells its products to food manufacturers who make infant formulas, candy, ice cream, pudding, baked goods, cheese and yogurt.

Source: MMPA