The largest dairy processing plant in the Northwest is now operating at 8201 N. Railroad Ave., Pasco.

Built and operated by Seattle-based Darigold Inc., the plant can process up to 8 million pounds of milk per day from regional farms, producing butter and powdered milk products.

The first batch of powdered milk and butter was expected to begin rolling off production lines in July. It began receiving and processing milk in early June.

The new plant was built with sustainability in mind, including low-emission burner technology in its milk dryers to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, access to Pasco’s recently expanded Process Water Reuse Facility for responsible wastewater treatment and reuse, and a strategic location intended to maximize efficiencies and logistics, including proximity to more than 100 member farms.

The Pasco project represents more than $1 billion in investment in Washington’s dairy sector, including both construction and on-farm expansion, Darigold said in a release.

Construction on the 29,000-square-foot plant, located on 137 acres, began in 2022.

Miron Construction, based in Neenah, Wisconsin, is the general contractor. 

E.A. Bonelli & Associates of Oakland, California, is the architect.