Agro Farma breaks ground on Chobani yoghurt plant in Idaho

Agro Farma, a US-based dairy company that owns the Greek yoghurt brand Chobani, has broken ground on a $100m yoghurt manufacturing plant in Twin Falls, Idaho, US.

The high-capacity production facility, which will be built upon 200 acres and span 940,000ft², will enable the company to boost the production of Chobani yoghurt and enhance its ability to bring product innovations to the market.

This will be Agro Farma’s second facility in New York and is expected to be operational in the second half of 2012, creating 400 new jobs.

The company is also planning to set up an onsite 45,000ft² employee facility featuring an open office plan, wellness area, cafeteria, lounge areas, training facilities, day care centre and conference rooms.

According to the company, the Twin Falls location was chosen due to its abundant milk supply, skilled labour force and tight-knit local community.

Idaho Governor CL Butch Otter said that Chobani’s planned investment is expected to generate an additional $200m in regional sales.

"Between construction activities, employment at the plant and the sourcing of local supplies such as milk, there’s no question that the economic effect of Chobani’s new site will run deep throughout Southern Idaho, benefitting family farms as well as our dairy and construction industries," Otter said.

Agro Farma said that the construction of the new plant will not affect the expansion project, which is being undertaken at its landmark manufacturing plant in South Edmeston, New York.

Chobani products are Kosher-certified, gluten free, made with milk free of rBST, and offer twice as much protein as regular yoghurt, five live and active cultures, and three strains of probiotics.

Agro Farma, based in New York, was founded in 2004 and it sells products in the US, Canada and Australia.