[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8857]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             100TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHALLENGE DAIRY PRODUCTS

 Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I would like to bring to the 
attention of my colleagues a milestone that has been reached by an 
important cooperative association responsible for the marketing and 
distribution of dairy products from 450 California family-owned 
dairies.
  Challenge opened for business under the name of Challenge Cream & 
Butter Association 100 years ago with four employees and a wagon. That 
first day, Challenge sold 12 pounds of butter. Today, Challenge Butter 
is the largest butter brand in the West, and Challenge Dairy is the 
leading dairy foodservice provider in California, with eight 
distribution centers spanning the State in Lodi, San Leandro, Monterey, 
Fresno, Santa Maria, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Challenge 
directly employs over 175 hard-working California citizens and has 
aided thousands of California dairy farmers in their success over the 
years. Today, more than 450 dairies are part of Challenge's 
cooperative, putting tens of millions of dollars into California's 
economy annually.
  Challenge's success is made up of dedicated California dairy farmers 
and employees who have ensured the quality of all products produced 
from each of its creameries. Early on, dairymen realized marketing was 
and remains to be key in successfully spreading the word about the 
quality of their products, which was why Challenge was conceived.
  The benefits of farmer cooperation were so effective that the status 
of every single dairyman was materially improved, just from their 
existence. A leader in quality improvement, Challenge established the 
standards all other dairy organizations followed. Thus, Challenge has 
figuratively held a protective umbrella over farm endeavors, for the 
good of the farmers and the Nation, for more than a century.
  By refusing to sell any item that didn't meet the highest standards, 
Challenge built a reputation for quality. That reputation has grown as 
Challenge led the way in the dairy industry with product and 
manufacturing innovations such as the aluminum butter churn, the first 
successful metal butter churn in the world.
  Now a wholly owned subsidiary of California Dairies, Inc. CDI, 
California's largest dairy provider and the second largest in the 
country, Challenge has grown to represent more than 450 dairy farmers 
and markets nearly half of CDI's butter supply. CDI has six 
manufacturing facilities that are located throughout the central valley 
and directly employs over 740 people.
  Challenge has operated through two World Wars and the Great 
Depression in addition to a number of other obstacles. Through it all, 
the company adapted and persevered to continue fulfilling the people's 
need for quality dairy products and support the dairy farmers behind 
producing products. We believe Challenge embodies the determination and 
the spirit of the people of California.

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