Another Central New York agribusiness is expanding its footprint to get into the largely untapped aseptic line of products with a $28 million expansion. Once completed, the more than 22,0000 square foot processing and production area at Byrne’s Ultra Dairy plant in East Syracuse will produce specialized milk, half-and-half and heavy cream with a shelf life of up to one year.
President and CEO Carl Byrne says the milk will also fill a need for schools adjusting to a new reality.
“For large social feeding programs, there are some school districts in larger cities that use a lot of aseptic milk which is shelf-stable. And with the changes in the marketplace, that’s only going to grow. Kids may not be going to the cafeterias as much, they may be eating in the classrooms and the milk it’ll be brought to them. There’s going to be a need for that to be ambient and shelf stable, at least in some districts.”
Byrne adds the new aseptic products will also allow the company to expand into other northeast and mid-Atlantic markets. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul was present for the groundbreaking of the expansion. She thinks the new products have national market potential.
“You’re aseptic… meaning you can stay on the shelf a much longer time, upwards to a year. You could have that delivered and dairy products delivered to families, not just here in Upstate New York.”
The expansion of the processing and production area should be completed by next January and become fully operational next April. The company is looking to fill 64 new positions and some current employees will be promoted. Byrne is receiving sales tax exemptions to purchase equipment and materials and a mix of $5 million in capital grants and job creation tax credits.
