Richlands Creamery invests in new facility

Seventeen new jobs will be created over the next three years. The new creamery will be located at Richlands Dairy Farm, a commercial dairy and agritourism destination near the town of Blackstone.

As part of the project, Richlands Creamery is committing to purchasing 100% of its agricultural inputs from Virginia farmers, totaling nearly $1m.

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring said the investment creates a new market for local milk and an important new agritourism destination that will draw visitors to the region.

AFID grant

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worked with Dinwiddie County to secure the project. Governor Ralph Northam approved a $20,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which Dinwiddie County will match with local funds.

Coley Jones Drinkwater, president of Richlands Creamery, said the AFID grant means the company can build a milk-processing facility, with a retail store front, to bottle and direct market milk and ice cream.

Jones Drinkwater told DairyReporter in addition to the AFID grant, the company also received a TROF (Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund) grant of $40,000, and is in the process of applying for a low interest loan through the Tobacco Commission to cover the cost of equipment.