North Country Dairy, LLC

North Country Dairy, LLC operates as Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc., a multi-generational family business and cooperative of over 230 local family farms founded in 2006 through mergers beginning in the late 1930s. They produce and distribute fresh dairy products including milk, yogurt, ice cream mix, and cheese across New York and Pennsylvania, with specific facilities in Buffalo, Williamstown, West Seneca, North Lawrence, and Batavia. The company emphasizes sustainability, quality, and community support through its cooperative model, ensuring farmers work together for mutual benefit rather than just profit.

The cooperative markets a wide variety of dairy products including milk, flavored milk, yogurt, refrigerated dip, sour cream, cottage cheese, Italian cheeses, and ice cream mix. Their Upstate Farms® brand specifically brings fresh, local milk to customers across New York, Pennsylvania, and the Atlantic Northeast, while Bison® Dip and Intense® Milk are among their iconic offerings. They also provide private labeling and co-packing capabilities for other brands, even if those products do not display the Upstate Farms® logo.

The business operates several state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including a fluid and ice cream plant in Buffalo, NY; a similar plant in Williamstown, PA; a cultured products facility in West Seneca, NY; a specialized yogurt plant in North Lawrence, NY; and an O-AT-KA® facility in Batavia, NY focused on innovative dairy products and R&D. These facilities transform fresh milk into award-winning products ranging from half & half and heavy cream to Greek yogurt and frozen yogurt mix.

Reviewers consistently praise the freshness and creaminess of the milk, noting it enhances morning coffee and cereal. Many customers highlight the excellent customer service, describing staff as friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful in ensuring accurate and on-time deliveries. The variety of cheese flavors and the overall quality of the dairy products are also frequently mentioned as standout features.

The company ensures freshness by leveraging a wide distribution network that allows milk to reach store shelves in just 2-3 days after leaving the farm. They claim that their Upstate Farms® Yogurt has the longest lasting shelf life in the country, and all their dairy products are naturally gluten-free and made from an rBST-free milk supply.

To get started, customers can visit upstatefarms.com to browse products and place orders online. The website is described as easy to navigate and user-friendly, with a simple ordering process that keeps things hassle-free. For bulk services or private labeling, interested parties can contact the Sales & Business Development team via email at [email protected].

The cooperative is committed to sustainability, animal well-being, and ethical farming practices. They are members of the NMPF Animal Health & Well-Being Committee, Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM), and the New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program (NYSCHAP). Their farms practice farming with integrity, innovating animal well-being to ensure each drop of milk reflects their ethical standards.

The company offers organic dairy options made from the milk supply of their own USDA-certified organic farmer-owners. On these organic dairy farms, the cows eat only grass and certified-organic feed, allowing consumers who wish to avoid GMOs to choose certified-organic dairy foods. They also provide co-packing programs for companies looking to partner and tap into their manufacturing capabilities.

The cooperative was founded in 2006 through a series of mergers of local area farms in smaller cooperatives that began in the late 1930s. It is now one of America's largest and most stable dairy cooperatives, driven by farmer- and employee-led values. The organization has over 1,800 employees who take pride in nourishing families and communities with healthy dairy products.

The company serves a wide area, distributing all products throughout New York and Pennsylvania. Specifically, Upstate Farms® Yogurt is distributed nationally and can be found in all 50 United States. Their fluid and ice cream facilities in Buffalo and Williamstown serve the entire organization, while their cultured facilities in West Seneca and North Lawrence specialize in yogurt and other cultured products.

Customers can reach the company at their corporate headquarters located at 368 Pleasant View Dr., Lancaster, NY 14086, or at their membership office at 700 Ellicott St., Suite 2, Batavia, NY 14020. The main phone number is 3153895111, and they offer dedicated email addresses for sales, customer support, and media inquiries.

The cooperative's mission is to nourish life by providing high-quality dairy products from the fields to the tables. They strive for excellence in everything they do, act with integrity, and collaborate to gain synergies. Their vision is to modernize the cooperative for sustainable growth that enriches all the lives they touch, ensuring every team member fosters growth and partners are supported.

The company provides private labeling and co-packing capabilities, allowing them to produce fresh, award-winning dairy products that match a brand's immediate needs and growth goals. They offer streamlined logistics and unique flavor blends to help partners reach more targets and achieve the pinnacle of taste, freshness, and quality. Even without the Upstate Farms® logo, many favorite retailer brands utilize their cooperative's dairy products.

The cooperative's success starts with the passion and dedication of its employees who work hard every single day to produce the highest quality products. They are committed to providing all employees with a rewarding environment and fostering growth. The organization emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and making a positive difference in every single day through their operations.

The official website of North Country Dairy, LLC is upstatefarms.com.