The HP Hood facility in Northeast Philadelphia has found its new owner in the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, writes Harrison Cann for City & State Pennsylvania.

The company’s leaders were joined last week by Gov. Josh Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding to announce the purchase.

Shapiro highlighted that the purchase is a great sign of the strength of the dairy industry, and the economy as a whole.

He emphasized that the sale will ensure all 178 jobs remain in the community and that the new owner plans to more than double yearly processing capacity by 2026.

“The commonwealth made an aggressive play here, putting together an incentive package totaling $10 million in grants and loans to be able to not just keep this plant open and keep the jobs here but to expand the capacity – nearly double the capacity,” said Shapiro.

The Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative is a farmer-owned cooperative that includes members in 11 states, with Pennsylvania having the most farm members.

“We have plants in North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, and so to finally have a plant in Pennsylvania is so exciting,” said Jay Bryant, CEO of MDVA.

Read more about the purchase of the HP Hood facility and its new ownership in City & State Pennsylvania.

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