Plant Overview

Golden Cheese Company of California is nestled in the heart of Southern California's bountiful dairyland, which has the most dense milk cow population of anywhere in the world. Dairy farms, which are members of Dairy Farmers of America, assure that an adequate, consistent supply of fresh, high quality milk is available for cheese making. The facility is strategically located in the city of Corona, 45 miles east of Los Angeles. This provides convenient access to transportation facilities for product distribution to U.S. and world markets.

The plant produces about 183 million pounds of natural American cheese per year, including 130 million pounds of shredded cheese. This production is equivalent to 35 percent of the American cheeses consumed by Californians.

The plant also produces 3,500,000 gallons of alcohol, 9,000,000 pounds of whey protein concentrate (80%) powder, 20,000,000 pounds of whey powder and 90,000,000 pounds of animal feed supplements per year.

In full operation, the plant consumes 5,000,000 pounds of milk per day or 1.8 billion lbs (830,000MT) per year. It requires 100,000 California milk cows to meet the demand. The plant consumes almost 5 percent of the entire Calfornia milk supply.

The plant is located in a 420,000 square foot building (10 acres). The total site is 34 acres. The plant directly employs approximately 300 people. There are over 500 pumps and 5,000 control valves in the plant.

Energy for the plant is supplied by a 49 megawatt co-generation facility built next to the plant. Nine megawatts are used by GCCC and excess electricity is sold to Southern California Edison.

The GCCC plant uses more electricity in ten minutes than the average household will use in one month. This is equivalent to the power of 5,000 households.

Dermot O'Brien, Manager Shred Operations

You are about to see the largest and most automated cheese, whey and alcohol plant in the world. To insure your safety and in order to comply with sanitary standards, all visitors, while in the plant, will be required to:

• Please put on your sanitary hats and lab coats and hair nets. Beard and moustache covers are required!
• Also remove all loose jewelry (except post-type earrings), like watches, rings (except wedding bands).
• Refrain from smoking, chewing or otherwise using tobacco products.
• Stay with company representative at all times.
• Remain within designated walking paths and enter only those areas designated by company representative.
• Refrain from touching or handling products or equipment.

Control Room

First stop on the tour

Other stops on the tour:

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visitors have been here, according to SPRYNET, since 11/27/96.