California Gold Moves Closer to Merger with DFA

The California Gold board of directors took one step closer towards solidifying a business relationship with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) by unanimously approving the signing of a formal merger agreement. If the majority of members approve the merger, California Gold will become a part of the largest milk marketer in the world.

"We have carefully studied the potential this merger would bring to our membership and strongly believe that joining forces with DFA would enhance California Gold's ability to serve the needs of our membership through new products and services that the cooperative could not offer as a stand alone entity," expressed Steve Hofman, California Gold chairman.

DFA is the country's largest dairy cooperative with more than 24,000 members representing some 18,000 dairies in 43 states throughout the United States. DFA's dairy members market and process more than 34 billion pounds of milk annually, supplying fluid and manufacturing customers with raw milk, dairy products and food components.

California Gold is one of the state's oldest dairy cooperatives representing more than 330 farmers in California and Nevada. With an annual milk supply of 2.5 billion pounds, the cooperative markets to bottling plants and produces American and Italian natural cheeses, cream, condensed and skim milk products, nonfat dry milk, whey protein, whey protein concentrate and other ingredients. The cooperative owns four manufacturing plants in Hughson, Petaluma, Tracy and Turlock.