Milk is a staple of any fridge and is one of Idaho’s top agricultural products. The one issue with milk? It does not seem to last long enough.
Suntado, a new aseptic dairy packaging plant, is working to solve that problem by creating state-of-the art shelf-stable milk and alternative beverages.
The company is the brainchild of two long-time Magic Valley dairymen, Dirk Reitsma and Jesus Hurtado, and the name is actually derived from Reitsma’s existing business — Sunrise Dairy and Jesus Hurtado’s last name.
Through using a higher pasteurization process, the milk is able to be stored for an extended shelf life of up to 120 days in a refrigerator, as opposed to just two to three weeks for normal milk.
The company was approved for a TRI award in February of 2022 and is expected to open its new facility in Burley in Spring 2024. This will create over 100 jobs with a capital expenditure of $123 million.
The Idaho Tax Reimbursement Incentive (TRI) is a post-performance tool that enables qualifying companies to receive a refundable tax credit of up to 30% on state income, payroll and sales taxes for up to 15 years.
“We just cannot wait to start putting some product on the shelf,” Suntado CEO Jeff Williams said. “The city of Burley is very friendly — business-friendly and ag friendly, and the whole Magic Valley is ag friendly. We are really excited by the fact that we have decided to stay home in Idaho.”
Learn more about the Idaho Tax Reimbursement Incentive (TRI) program here.
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