Darigold, Inc., a leading player in the American dairy sector, has officially appointed Allan Huttema as its Chief Executive Officer. Huttema, who initially stepped in as the Interim CEO in December following Joe Coote’s departure, will now helm the company as it embarks on significant expansions and navigates post-pandemic economic recovery.
Allan Huttema, who has been intricately involved with Darigold for over a decade—first as a Director and then as the Chairman of the Board—takes over leadership during a pivotal phase. Under his guidance, the company is completing a substantial new production facility in Central Washington, promising to bolster growth for Darigold and its cooperative members.
“At this time, the Board believes that Darigold will benefit from continuity of leadership, and that a strong connection between the company and its farmer-owners is important as we look to complete our Pasco project and build the on-farm capacity we will need as we begin operations there. We believe that Allan’s background uniquely qualifies him for the CEO role at this time,” said Tony Freeman, the newly appointed Chairman of Darigold’s Board.
Huttema himself expressed a deep commitment to the co-op’s future: “When the Board asked me late last year if I would serve as Interim CEO, I said I would do it. As a dairy farmer myself, I know how important it is to have successful and vibrant Darigold to serve as the marketing and processing arm of our co-op,” he stated. “To our community of dairy farmers in the region, Darigold isn’t just a company, it’s the lifeblood of our industry, and it’s important to me to help preserve this way of life to which our farmer-owners, me included, have dedicated our lives.”
Organizational Changes and Future Plans
Following Huttema’s acceptance of the CEO role, he resigned from the Board of Directors. The Board then elected Freeman as Chair and Washington dairy farmer Mike Schoneveld as Vice Chair, ensuring leadership continuity.
“These changes will help ensure continuity of leadership for Darigold and NDA at a critical time,” Freeman added. “We can now keep our organization focused on completing construction of our Pasco facility and building up the farm capacity we’ll need to begin operating there – a milestone that should provide new avenues to grow our co-op and help solidify the Northwest as a critical region for dairy production more broadly.”
About Darigold
Founded in Seattle, Darigold, Inc. is the marketing and processing arm of the Northwest Dairy Association (NDA), comprising nearly 300 family-owned farms across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Annually handling about 10 billion pounds of milk, Darigold is among the largest U.S. dairy processors. The company’s product range spans across retail, foodservice, commodity, and specialty markets, and it operates 11 plants in the Northwest. The construction of its 12th plant in Central Washington is underway, slated to further expand its operational footprint in 2025.
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