Firmitlg, Saturday, Juna 17, 1995
Weis Markets Celebrates Bottling 200 Million Gallons Of Milk
(Contlnuad from Pag* A 1)
with a receiving dock where trucks
deliver tankers from the farm.
Each tank of milk is given a
physical check including odor, the
temperature must be no higher,
than 40 degrees, and samples are
taken and tested in the laboratory
to check for growth inhibitors
(antibiotics inhibit growth), the
freezing point which indicates
adulterations, the butterfat content,
and bacteria.
If the tank load checks out, it is
pumped into silo storage tanks and
cooler to 35 degrees. Milk that is
received at noon gets bottled by
midnight. *
The plant operates full shifts six
This is one of two homogenlzers the Weis Markets dairy
plant has operating. The plant double its capacity In 15
years of operation.
After the milk le pasteurized and homogenized. It goes
through the separator this large stainless valve-looking
machine with stainless milk lines attatched.
days per week. The dairy operation
bottles only drinking milk, includ
ing chocolate milk, which pays
producers the highest rate.
Atlantic Dairy Cooperative has
been the sole supplier of milk to
the plant and continues to experi
ence a strong working relationship
with the plant Weis bottles about
350,000 gallons per week.
Anywhere from eight to 18
tankers of milk are received per
day, with an average of about 12 to
14, said Berry.
In a large tile and stainless steel
setting, workers all wear hairnets
to operate machinery and monitor
and clean and maintain equipment.
The milk comes from storage
and is homogenized. They plant also, or in the traditional paper and has grown,
has two homogenizing machines, containers. Weis Markets built its dairy in
the fat is separated and it goes on About 60 percent of the milk 1980, and it has expanded the plant
its way through the line until it is bottled is in the gallon plastic jugs, twice, adding a second pasteuriz
bottled in either plastic gallon jugs Berry said. ing system and a second gallon
that are manufacturing in the plant The plant is clean and efficient (Turn to Pago A 27)
These milk bottles and containers are on v ~<ay. y , direc
tor of dairy manufacturing for Dutch Valley Food Co. Inc., a subsidary of Weis Markets
Inc.
These just-made plastic gallon milk Jugs travel down the line for finishing. The plant
bottles about 350,000 gallons of milk per week, and 60 percent of that Is in the gallon
Jugs.
Bottling and retailing milk In paper milk containers It a large part of the product
marketing done by Weis Markets Inc.