The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Oct.19) published a long article about Smith Dairy Products Company becoming earth friendly. President, Steve Schmid, and his long line of family involvement in the company have been in operation since 1909, but Steve says they are working toward joining other environmentally friendly companies.
You may have seen their trademark yellow gallon milk jugs in grocery stores in their 6 state market, which includes Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Michigan. However, they operate from 2 main locations, one in Orrville, Ohio and another in Indiana.
Steve Schmid said that he has already made the green initiative by reducing his 150-delivery truck fuel consumption by integrating Onboard Tripmaster technology. Other environmentally friendly companies are switching to eco friendly fuels, manufacturing processes and products too. Other ways that Smith Dairy is becoming environmentally friendly are ensuring the cows live an easy, drug-free life.
Smith Dairy employs 450 employees and sells ice cream, cottage cheese, and frozen shakes in addition to its signature line of milk products. Schmid says their company is actually saving money by reducing their routes and reducing manufacturing costs. However, Schmid realizes that they’ll never be a 100 percent environmentally friendly company because of the pasteurization process needed and its high energy usage.
Smith Dairy employees are constantly making suggestions how the company can be more environmentally friendly including their delivery drivers. Employees at Smith Dairy have decreased their water consumption, use biodegradable detergent at every entrance to reduce contamination inside each dairy processing plant and rigorous measures to keep the plants as clean as a hospital. “We have to make our whole operation more and more green,” Schmid said, “more environmentally efficient.”
For more information how Smith Dairy is showing their determination to be in the ranks with other environmentally friendly companies visit their Web site www.smithdairy.com.
