Producers Dairy expands their operation

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Producers Dairy has been around for 84 years. Not many Fresno companies can match that kind of longevity but Producers was still adding jobs.

City leaders helped the Shehadey family cut the ribbon on a brand new building at its plant on Belmont near Palm. Inside, eight new employees will manufacture the company's own square, plastic milk bottles.

Producers Dairy CEO Richard Shehadey explained, "I'd say within a month it should be out in the marketplace. It's a stackable bottle so it doesn't require a box around to stack and its convenient in certain types of stores."

The Producers Dairy brand is steeped in tradition. The company moved into its central Fresno building back in 1949.

Some of the company's 475 employees were on hand for a celebration marking the expansion.

President Scott Shehadey is Richard's son. Scott chalked up the company's success to, "Continued growth. We've been very blessed just to continue to find ways to grow in a very competitive market. Food milk is really competitive."

Producers also makes fruit drinks and Red Diamond tea which is popular in the south. But not a day goes by without someone singing the company jingle - even the boss can't stop.

Richard Shehadey sang, "When you know quality you'll say yes to Producers."

The company owns 30% of the dairies used for processing. It can produce 300,000 gallons of milk a day.