ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- Land O' Lakes and the Atlantic Dairy Cooperative have announced plans to consolidate the two cooperative organizations.
Carlisle, Pa. Atlantic is currently one of Land O' Lakes' largest members.
The consolidation will create a new national organization that will focus on expanding value-added markets for members and streamline on-farm production programs, according to Laura England, public relations manager for Atlantic. Atlantic members will be able to hook into the well-known Land O' Lakes brand as well, said England.
The consolidation must be approved by members of both cooperatives. Land O' Lakes members will vote on the consolidation at the cooperative's annual meeting Feb. 20, and Atlantic members will vote March 13.
Atlantic, based in Southampton, Pa., is a 3,600-member dairy cooperative that markets and processes milk in the Middle Atlantic region. Land O' Lakes, headquartered in Arden Hills, Minn., is a food and agricultural cooperative owned by farmers and ranchers, including 3,800 dairy producers and 1,000 member cooperatives in a 19-state region.
If approved, Atlantic will become Land O' Lakes' Eastern Milk Operation, and retain its manufacturing and organizational headquarters.
