Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) is the largest farmer-owned cheese cooperative in the United States. Founded in 1969, the company is headquartered in New Ulm, Minnesota, and represents more than 540 member dairy farm families across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. AMPI operates six manufacturing plants in the Midwest, processing 4.0 billion pounds of milk annually.
The cooperative produces cheese, butter, and powdered dairy products. It holds approximately 10 percent of the U.S. market share for American-type and processed cheese. Annual sales total $1.3 billion, with products distributed to foodservice, retail, and food ingredient markets, as well as exported to regions including Central America, China, Europe, the Middle East, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and South America.
AMPI's farmer-owned cooperative structure is guided by a stated commitment to respect for the land, animals, and communities. The company emphasizes integrity from farm to table and a partnership between dairy farm families and skilled cheesemakers, a model it has maintained for more than 50 years.
