Organic dairy opens in Delaware

The first certified organic dairy has opened in Delaware and part of the operation to run it comes from its home in Chester County, Pa.

State and local officials celebrated the ribbon cutting of Natural Dairy Products Corp. in Newark today. The company will process and package organic milk products from grass-fed cows.

“This is a Grade A plant,” explained Bernice Whaley, deputy director of the Delaware Economic Development office. “This means that milk hauling trucks pull right into the building and are received of their milk, sanitized and cleaned prior to leaving.”

The milk will come from nearby farms in Pennsylvania.

Gov. Jack Markell expressed his enthusiasm for the small business’s products which include milk, heavy cream, butter, buttermilk and yogurt.

“If this is not the product you’re already drinking, you’ve got to switch,” said Markell “I’m making a commitment that we’re going to do everything we can to help your business.”

The company created 19 new jobs in Delaware and Markell said small businesses such as the dairy are the backbone of Delaware.

“This idea that small business is big business in Delaware is for real and we are so focused on doing everything we can to put people to work,” he said.

Ned MacArthur, founder and president of Natural Dairy Products Corp., moved the headquarters of the company from Avondale, PA to his native Delaware with help from DEDO, the Small Business Administration and money from the Strategic Fund Performance Grant and the Strategic Fund Capital Expenditures Grant.

“We are so privileged to be here. Newark, what a great town, what a great university, we’re just, I can’t tell you how thrilled we are to be here,” he said.

MacArthur, a life-long dairy worker, started the company in 1994 after becoming frustrated with the fact that there wasn’t a cost effective way to sell organic milk.

“Ned and his father, Norman took matters into their own hands, teaming up with organic dairy farmers in Lancaster to develop an effective system for producing, transporting, processing and packaging grass-fed organic milk while retaining independence from the milk industry,” explained Whaley.

Jerry Clifton, acting Newark mayor said the city is proud to have the dairy.

“I want to thank Ned for coming to Newark and believing in us and investing in us and I think this is one more case of the governor’s and his administration’s commitment to business,” said Clifton.

Clifton added that it’s been a busy week in Newark.

“Delaware is open for business and Newark is open for business,” he said. “We just had what I call the triple-play over the last few days with Bloom Energy opening and the ICE lab opening and now Ned’s company.”

Local distributors can be found on the company’s website, www.natural-by-nature.com