Byrne Dairy joins New York State Grown & Certified program

Byrne Dairy, Inc., a LaFayette–based family-owned dairy processor and distributor, has joined the New York State Grown & Certified program.

New York State Grown & Certified is a promotional program that distinguishes agricultural products that are “sourced from New York farms and made by producers who meet safe food-handling practices and demonstrate environmental stewardship,” the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release.

The company has already placed the label on its new line of Byrne Hollow Farm organic-milk products, which are sold in Whole Foods Markets, Byrne Dairy stores, and other retailers, Cuomo’s office said.

Later this month, consumers will be able to find the certified label on Byrne Dairy’s new line of Byrne Hollow Farm grass-fed milk products sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club locations.

In the coming weeks, Byrne Dairy also plans to announce another line of products bearing the certified label.

Byrne Dairy works with “hundreds” of local and family farms to produce its dairy products, according to Cuomo’s release. Most of the farms that work with Byrne Dairy are located no more than 40 miles from the company’s processing plants.

“Dairy is a major part of our agricultural industry and the New York State Grown & Certified program will help to further grow this critical sector of this state’s economy,” Cuomo said in the release. “By expanding this program to dairy, we promote even more of New York’s finest producers and hard-working farmers, connect consumers to high-quality products and support the growth of local economies.”

Besides Byrne Dairy, Cuomo announced five other dairy processors that have also joined the program.

They include McCadam Cheese, which is located in Franklin County. McCadam — which is owned by Methuen, Massachusetts–based Agri-Mark, a dairy-farmer cooperative — manufactures New York cheddar, muenster, and European-style cheeses using milk from 588 New York dairy farms, Cuomo’s office said.

The processors also include Buffalo–based Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., a food and beverage company owned by 345 New York dairy-farm families.

In addition, King Brothers Dairy is a family-owned farm and processor in Saratoga County; Hudson Valley Fresh Dairy is a cooperative of 10 dairy farmers located in Dutchess, Columbia, and Ulster counties; and Beecher’s Handmade Cheese is an urban cheesemaker located in New York City’s Flatiron District.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com