Dairy Farmers of America Acquires Family-Owned Business

KANSAS CITY, Mo.Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) on Wednesday announced the acquisition of Dairy Maid Dairy (Dairy Maid), a family-owned processor of milk, juice and fruit drinks.

Based in Frederick, Md., Dairy Maid has been owned by the Vona family since 1946. Jimmy and Jody Vona, two brothers, will continue to manage the daily operations, according to DFA.

 The acquisition of Dairy Maid Dairy aligns with DFAs strategy to increase its commercial footprint and expand ownership in the fluid and fresh dairy category," said Rick Smith, DFA president and chief executive officer, in a statement. The Vonas have built a solid business and earned a reputation for quality products and superior service and is business our dairy farmer member owners can be proud of."

DFA does not anticipate the acquisition will disrupt Dairy Maid's operations, and the processor's 110 employees are expected to keep their jobs.

Major grocery chains, schools and governmental entities, such as prisons and military installations, are among Dairy Maid's customers. A variety of sources provide milk to Dairy Maid's facility including DFA, Maryland-Virginia, Lanco, Land OLakes, Cumberland Valley and Dairy Marketing Services.

DFA is a milk marketing cooperative and dairy food processor that connects nearly 13,000 dairy producers in 48 states. Members of the cooperative range from an Amish farm in Pennsylvania with 50 cows to a California dairy with 3,000 cows, according DFA's website.