Pasco Picked by Darigold for Future Dairy Processing Plant

Seattle-based Darigold Inc. is planning to build a new facility in Pasco and hopes to have it fully operational by 2023.

The premium protein and butter operation will feature a suite of state-of-the-art technologies and strategies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Darigold invested approximately $500-million and has plans to produce a new specialized protein powder and butter at the plant. Officials are predicting this will be the most sophisticated large-scale milk protein facility in North America.

Darigold has been working with the Port of Pasco since the fall of 2020. Port Commissioners approved the sale of 150 acres of the Reimann Industrial Center on Thursday to Darigold. The new Pasco facility is expected to bring more than 1,000 jobs to Franklin County. Darigold also operates a plant in Sunnyside.

Darigold predicts the new plant will process up to 8-million pounds of milk daily. The plant will produce specialized products that can't be manufactured at any other Darigold facility.

The new facility will be designed to accommodate future electric vehicles. The new facility is also expected to provide about 200 "high-quality" jobs onsite. The 400,000 square foot plant will feature an on-site wastewater treatment strategy using extracted methane as a natural gas substitute.

The facility will export goods using both rail and barge facilities, reducing the distance trucks travel for milk pickups and deliveries by about 5 million miles yearly.

Darigold produces dairy-based products for foodservice, retail, commodity, and specialty markets. It's one of the largest dairy processors in the United States. For more information, visit darigold.com.