Aurora Organic celebrates new milk facility in Columbia MO

State and local officials recently gathered in Columbia MO for a special ceremony to open Aurora Organic Dairy’s 127,000-square-foot milk production and storage facility.

The plant is the company’s second milk bottling facility and is expected to create more than 100 local jobs by year’s end.

“Aurora Organic Dairy is a great company that will ultimately bring more than 160 quality jobs to Missouri,” Missouri Gov Mike Parson said. “Missouri’s central location and infrastructure network are two keys to attracting and retaining good businesses here in our state. We look forward to supporting their growth for years to come.”

Aurora Organic Dairy (AOD) is a leading producer and processor of retailer brand organic milk. The company operates dairy farms and milk bottling facilities, ensuring the highest quality and traceability of any organic milk product in the market, the company said. AOD grows a portion of its own certified organic feed and pasture, raises and milks organic cows at eight farms, and processes and packages milk at two locations (Columbia and Platteville CO).

AOD said the new Columbia plant will help it deliver more organic milk products. The state-of-the-art aseptic milk bottling line makes the company one of a few dairy plants in America to distribute shelf-stable organic milk products.

“Our company’s mission is to deliver high-quality organic milk with integrity to everyone, everywhere,” said Scott McGinty, Aurora Organic Dairy’s chief executive officer. “Products like these not only offer consumers more organic product choices, but they also help expand markets for organic milk producers. Innovation is rapidly changing the face of dairy beverages like never before, and organic milk is no exception.”

The facility will process and package an array of products, including:

• Milk in a variety of single-serve and shelf-stable (aseptic) bottles.
• Value-added dairy products, including fortified and flavored milks, and creamers.
• Milk varieties including A2 production, organic grass-fed, Omega 3 fortified and lactose-reduced.
• Extended shelf-life milk in half-gallon cartons.

“This project symbolizes the advancements in agriculture and bringing high-quality organic milk to market,” said Brian Treece, Columbia’s mayor. “It also solidifies Columbia’s economic advantage for agri-business and food manufacturing companies.”