MMPA’s strategic expansions in Remus, Ovid and Constantine position the cooperative and its members for long-term success.
MMPA is a cooperative built on continuous improvement. For over 100 years, the organization has evolved to meet the needs of its members, the demands of the marketplace and the realities of dairy production. That legacy of adaptability is on full display as we enter 2026, with MMPA’s investments coming online in three locations: Remus, Ovid and Constantine, Michigan.
Each project is different:
- one brings cottage cheese to MMPA’s product portfolio,
- another increases capacity for highly demand high-protein dairy ingredients,
- and a third will produce America’s first dairy-based ethanol.
They’re all rooted in the same purpose – creating more value from every pound of member milk.
These expansion efforts are about more than growing volume, they’re about building a future-ready cooperative that supports innovation, sustainability and value opportunity for years to come.
Remus: Plant Acquisition
Adding Cottage Cheese to MMPA’s Product Portfolio
When MMPA reacquired the Remus, Michigan processing facility in 2025, it was a full circle moment. The Remus plant holds deep historical significance for the cooperative. Originally purchased by MMPA in 1983, the facility was operated by Leprino Foods starting in 1987, and fully acquired by them in 2006. For decades, the plant has played a key role in Michigan’s dairy economy, and with its return to MMPA, it will continue that tradition.
“This acquisition represents a meaningful step forward in MMPA’s long-term strategy to grow our cooperative, invest in Michigan’s dairy industry and deliver increased value to our members,” said Joe Diglio, President and CEO of MMPA. “With our longstanding familiarity with the Remus facility and deep ties to the surrounding community, we are excited about this opportunity to revitalize operations and bring new products to market.”
The facility will be transformed into a cottage cheese production plant, adding a cultured dairy product to MMPA’s diverse product mix. With a strong consumer demand for high-protein, low-sugar foods, cottage cheese is a timely investment. Operations are expected to begin in March 2026, with the plant processing approximately 1 million pounds of milk per day and supporting dozens of new jobs.
Bringing the plant back into MMPA’s operations reconnects the cooperative with a site that has served its members and the Great Lakes’ dairy market for several decades. Now, that legacy will continue with new products, new jobs and renewed purpose.
Quick Facts: Plant Acquisition
Location: Remus, Michigan
Product: Cottage cheese
Ovid: Ultrafiltered Milk Expansion
Scaling Up to Meet Consumer Demand for Protein
As consumer demand for high-protein, low-sugar products continues to climb, MMPA is taking steps to ensure member milk is positioned where the market is headed. A major expansion at MMPA’s Ovid, Mich. plant will bring online an additional 3 million pounds per day of ultrafiltered milk processing capacity, allowing production of a high-protein, lower-sugar dairy product.
“Ultrafiltered milk has become a flagship product in our portfolio,” said Molly Costaris, MMPA Director of Sales. “Manufactured by filtering skim milk through membranes that concentrate the protein and remove the sugars, we’ve seen ultrafiltered milk fit seamlessly into the rising consumer demand for high-protein, low-sugar products, a trend that seems here to stay.”
Set to become operational in January 2026, the project significantly enhances MMPA’s ability to meet customer demand in a growing segment of high-protein yogurts and ready-to-drink protein shakes. The expansion also builds on the cooperative’s ultrafiltration expertise already established at its Constantine facility, further strengthening MMPA’s integrated ingredient supply chain.
With construction underway and engineering teams finalizing system designs, the expansion is on track to play a key role in MMPA’s long-term strategy: diversifying the co-op’s product portfolio, investing in collaborative innovation and maintaining a competitive edge in the evolving dairy marketplace.
Quick Facts: Ultrafiltered Milk Expansion
Location: Ovid, Michigan
Product: Ultrafiltered milk
Constantine: Dairy Distillery Alliance Comes Online
Fueling the Future with Dairy-Based Ethanol
In Constantine, Michigan, MMPA is exploring what’s possible when innovation, sustainability and cooperative vision intersect. Through a groundbreaking partnership with Dairy Distillery, the cooperative has built the first dairy-based ethanol plant in the United States, a project that will convert a dairy byproduct into clean, renewable fuel.
The new facility, scheduled to begin production in January 2026, will use milk permeate, a lactose-rich liquid byproduct of ultrafiltration, to produce 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually. That ethanol can be blended into transportation fuel, including sustainable aviation fuel, supporting global carbon reduction goals while generating added value for MMPA members.
“This project shows how we can turn environmental responsibility into an economic opportunity,” Joe Diglio, MMPA President & CEO said. “By converting milk permeate into ethanol, we’re not only upcycling a dairy byproduct, but also creating a new revenue stream for our member-owners. This project is a win for the environment, a win for our cooperative, and a testament to our commitment to leading the dairy industry into a more sustainable future.”
The Constantine project also included the construction of a dedicated wastewater treatment system, which went into operation in the summer of 2025 and has further improved the environmental footprint of MMPA’s operations. By capturing value from milk permeate and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the plant reflects MMPA’s commitment to innovation with purpose.
Perhaps most importantly, the Dairy Distillery Alliance showcases the cooperative’s ability to think beyond the traditional milk market. It’s a vision rooted in member success, future opportunity and impactful sustainability, all coming together in Constantine, Mich.
Quick Facts: Dairy Distillery Alliance
Location: Constantine, Michigan
Product: Low-carbon ethanol
This article was originally published in the January/February 2026 issue of the Milk Messenger. Subscribe »