SCHUMER CELEBRATES CHOBANI INVESTING WHOPPING $1 BILLION IN MOHAWK VALLEY FOR NEW YOGURT FACTORY, CREATING 1,000 NEW GOOD-PAYING JOBS - LARGEST INVESTMENT IN NATURAL FOOD MAKING IN AMERICAN HISTORY
Schumer Pushed Chobani To Consider NY For Major Expansion & Has Worked With Company Since Day 1 Helping Chobani First Set Up Shop In Upstate NY And Grow By Helping Get Greek Yogurt Into National School Lunch Program
Chobani Is America’s #1 Selling Greek Yogurt Brand And Purchases Most Of Its Dairy For NY Plants From New York Dairy Farms, Supporting Thousands Across Upstate NY
Schumer: New Chobani Facility Is A Win-Win-Win For Chobani, NY Dairy Farmers, And Mohawk Valley Jobs & The Economy
A longtime advocate for Chobani’s growth in Upstate NY, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today celebrated Chobani’s announcement it will invest $1 billion to build a new Greek yogurt manufacturing facility at the Griffiss Triangle Site in the City of Rome, the largest investment in natural food making in American history, creating 1,000 new good paying jobs. Schumer, who has long helped Chobani grow including by helping to get their Greek yogurt in the national school lunch program, said this massive new investment will help boost Upstate NY’s dairy farmers and will establish the region as a leader in yogurt production for the entire country
“Today, Chobani makes Upstate New York the #1 Greek yogurt producer in America. Chobani’s $1 billion investment – the largest investment in natural food making in American history – is a win-win-win for Chobani, NY dairy farmers, and the Mohawk Valley economy and jobs. I’ve fought to help Chobani grow since the very beginning to lay the foundation for a day like today. When Chobani wanted to expand the reach of their delicious and nutritious Greek yogurt, I helped get them included in the national school lunch program to be enjoyed by children across the country. With this new factory, more people will be able to enjoy their ‘Made In NY’ Greek yogurt than ever before,” said Senator Schumer. “Dairy farmers are the beating heart of Upstate NY and this massive new facility and 1,000 new jobs will help support so many family farms across the state. I sincerely thank Chobani’s amazing CEO, and my very good friend, Hamdi Ulukaya for continuing his commitment to our state. I also thank Governor Hochul: without her leadership, today would not be possible. New York is proud that Chobani calls it home and more people will be enjoying their yogurt that comes from NY dairy farms made here in the Mohawk Valley than ever before.”
Chobani, which is America’s No. 1-selling Greek yogurt brand and the second largest overall yogurt manufacturer, calls New York State home. Currently, Chobani employs over 1300 people at its Chenango County and New York City offices, and purchases 95% of its dairy from New York farmers for its products made in New York State.
Schumer has long supported the Greek yogurt industry in Upstate New York, previously ensuring that it was included in the USDA’s school lunch program with Chobani and the broader Greek yogurt industry in mind. Schumer explained that Greek yogurt is a highly nutritious product that has become a popular and healthy food staple for millions of Americans, including students across the country who take part in the USDA Child Nutrition programs. Schumer said that starting in the fall of 2015, after his push, the USDA added Greek yogurt to its list of items available in the National School Lunch Program. Schumer has additionally called on the USDA to update its protein crediting system to ensure that Greek yogurt is given credit for the protein it contributes and is continuing his advocacy to ensure that the crediting system will ultimately reflect the nutritional quality of Greek yogurt, making it a cost-competitive option for schools to purchase.
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