10/31/07 Idaho Milk Products plant construction underway

Idaho Milk Products Incorporated will spend between 70 and 80 million dollars on a processing plant now under construction in Jerome. Unlike other nearby plants that produce cheese IMP is looking at different markets. MYERS "We're going to process three million pounds a day. Of course they're going to separate it into the fat, carbohydrates and protein portions of the milk and the cream will sell off under contract. The lactose is going to be dried as lactose permeate. Plant president Tom Myers says they spent four years looking for the right location. So why Jerome? MYERS "The milk. This plant was literally designed initially for the Midwest. The problem that we had there was to get two to three million pounds of milk per day." Myers says milk availability is one thing, the dairy people he will work with is another positive for Idaho. MYERS "I've never come across a group of more hard working honest people. No is no, yes is yes and I don't know is I'll find out and let you know." Idaho ranks fourth in the nation in milk production behind California, Wisconsin and New York and IMP is the third company this year to begin work on new processing plants in the Magic Valley. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott