Dairy

California Dairies Inc. (CDI), the nation’s second largest dairy processing cooperative, and its board of directors today announced the appointment of Andrei Mikhalevsky as president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, 2012. Mikhalevsky will succeed Richard L. Cotta, who will retire on Dec. 31, 2011. …

Chobani, America's #1 selling yogurt brand, has announced their plans to open a second domestic manufacturing plant as part of the company's continued strategic growth initiative. Chobani plans to invest over $100 million to build a state-of-the-art, high capacity production facility housed on 200 acres of agricultural and industrial land in Twin Falls, Idaho. …

HP Hood crowned Dan Rinaldi, of Cranston, Rhode Island, the $10,000 grand prize winner in the 3rd Annual Hood® New England Dairy Cook-Off®. Rinaldi won with his recipe for Surf and Turf Sliders with Maine Lobster Sauce. The Cook-Off was held at the Ocean Gateway Terminal in Portland, Maine, on November 6th. …

Stonyfield and Organic Valley are giving the gift of organic food this holiday season-and providing consumers an opportunity to do the same. The two companies have launched an online campaign to encourage healthy organic eating that will benefit Wholesome Wave, an organization whose programs are designed to make nutritious, locally-grown food available and affordable to America's underserved urban and rural communities. …

International dairy processor Saputo Inc. says American appetites for specialty cheeses are much lighter than Canadian and therein lies an opportunity to fill the gap and grow. …