California Dairies Opens Bakersfield Manufacturing Plant

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — California Dairies, Inc., (CDI) a dairy farmer-owned cooperative, celebrated the grand opening of its new manufacturing plant, Valley Natural Beverages (VNB) in Bakersfield, Calif.

The 200,000-square-foot greenfield facility represents an investment by CDI’s member-owners. The vertically integrated plant will begin processing an estimated 116,000 gallons of local milk dairy.

The May 1 ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, alongside California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross, Kern County Supervisor David Couch, and local officials, community leaders and company executives.

“We are thrilled to officially open this cutting-edge facility,” said Brad Anderson, president and chief executive officer of CDI. “This investment underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability. The new plant will allow us to increase production capacity, expand our product offerings, improve efficiency and create next-generation jobs for the local community.”

The shelf-stable milk manufacturing facility features advanced robotics, energy-efficient technologies and a commitment to environmental sustainability, incorporating renewal energy sources and waste conservation. The plant will open with three processing lines to produce conventional extended shelf life (ESL) and ultra-high temperature (UHT) dairy beverages and products.

VNB’s strategic growth plan includes multiple phases to expand to 10-12 processing and filling production lines in the future, tripling the facility’s current capacity. When all phases are completed, the facility will be 400,000 square feet, processing up to 600,000 gallons per day of fresh local milk.

“This facility is a testament to the innovation and resilience of California’s dairy farmers,” said Kounalakis. “It represents a bold investment in the future of agriculture — one that supports sustainability, strengthens our rural economy and showcases the world-class leadership of California’s dairy industry.”

“Value-added dairy products like ESL and UHT are popular options in today’s changing marketplace,” said Peter Ernster, senior vice president, ingredients and fluid products. “This facility allows us to meet that demand with innovative products.”

CDI has hired 90 full-time employees for the facility.