The Fehei-owned plant in Kingston, as shown under construction in 2019 in this Google Maps photo.
KINGSTON — Canada Royal Milk’s Kingston plant has tapped into a supply of goat milk from over 120 Ontario and Quebec producers, allowing the Chinese-owned baby-formula maker to fulfill its original goal of processing both goat and cow milk.
The involved goat farms are part of the Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative (ODGC) and the Producteurs de lait de chèvre du Québec (PLCQ), which have entered long-term partnerships with Canada Royal Milk (CRM), according to an April 25 company announcement.
Beijing-based Feihe International built a Canadian plant to make infant formula destined for export back to China. The Eastern Ontario facility went online in August 2020, processing cow’s milk supplied by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario.
In March this year, Canada Royal Milk added commercial production of goat milk powder. Powdered goat milk has a longer shelf life than other goat dairy products, allowing the plant to process incoming shipments year-round.
“One of the most exciting things about the partnership is the opportunity it provides for producers,” Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative Chair René Zoller said, noting that milk from the organization typically goes to master cheesemakers. Canada Royal Milk “makes a different product with the milk, and more products means more stability for the industry and possibility for innovation.”
