Chuck Turner by milk filling line

Charles G. Turner worked on his dad’s dairy farm in the early 1900’s, but when he wanted to expand the business his dad was content with what he had. Charles decided to start out on his own. He rented land from a widow in Penn Hills, bought his first four cows through the Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension and used an old car to deliver milk. It was the beginning of what today is a three-generation family business, Turner Dairy Farms, Inc.

Charles’ determination to go on his own and build a better dairy farm business has led to an award-winning dairy that produces milk that makes a difference. The difference in Turner’s milk is the taste, quality, freshness and low bacteria count. Recent news of tainted food products has caused a lot of concern about the food we buy. The amazing fact is Turner Dairy Farm standards are five times stricter than the government’s tough Grade A milk requirements. Grade A permits a 10 count on coli bacteria, but Turner’s is zero. Grade A also permits a pasteurized bacteria count of up to 20,000, but Turner’s are maintained below a 300 count. It’s the higher standard Charles G. Turner set for his dairy farm business that has been passed down through three generations.

Turner Dairy Farms is a great local success story in a business world rapidly becoming one of giant corporations. And, it is a success story of a family run business. Chuck Turner, Jr., a grandson of Charles G., leads the dairy today as President. His father, Chuck, and Uncle Walter still work at the dairy. His brother Tim is Vice President and his sister, Jen, assists with various administration functions. His Uncle Walter’s daughters Becky and Ruth also work in administration and another daughter of Jim Turner (deceased), Robin, is Controller. In addition to being family operated, there are 140 employees that work at Turner’s Dairy Farm. It represents the best of western Pennsylvania and family values.

Chuck G. Turner built Turner’s Dairy Farm one home delivery milk route at a time. He also bought out some other farms and soon had 44 home delivery routes. His son Jim (deceased) joined him in the 50’s. A graduate of Penn State (Dairy Science) in 1951, he began to fine-tune the business incorporating it in 1953. Chuck, another son and still working at the dairy, joined the business in after graduating from Penn State in 1965. Walter, the third son and still working at Turner’s, joined after he graduated from Michigan State in 1967. Chuck, Jr. followed in 1986 after graduating from Penn State with a degree in food service.

The big difference today is that the Turner’s do not raise cattle. The last of the cows were sold in 1998. They are now the milk processors and work with over 50 local farmers (called producers) within an hour drive of the Penn Hills location. There are a number of farms in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties that are producers for Turner’s. The next difference is that Turner’s does not do private labeling, a common practice today of brand name producers. All of Turner’s products carry their name.

Chuck, Jr. says that their business “. . . is all about people”. He is following his granddad’s philosophy of dedicating his company to treating people right and by doing that the result benefits everyone. That philosophy has proven itself by the continued growth of the family business. They are committed to its family of dairy farmers, suppliers, friends, neighbors, customers and employees. And, that is no small task considering there are over 2,000 food service, grocery, convenience store and independent food store customers.

Turner’s commitment to quality and their Higher Standard has resulted in recognition for taste and quality in national competitions. Turner’s milk took first place in both white and chocolate milk categories at the 2004 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The All Star Dairy Association Quality Assurance Award – Best Fluid Milk Plant, was awarded to Turner’s based on taste, quality and processing plant inspections. This is the seventh consecutive year that Turner’s products won individual taste and quality awards from the All-Star Dairy Association.

Advancements at the plant also contribute to Turner’s Higher Standard. In 2004, Turner completed a $500,000 expansion and automation project to increase milk production and expand capacity for raw milk and orange juice storage. The project includes improvements to the production line and the installation of two new 50,000-gallon refrigerated stainless steel vessels.

Turner completed construction of and opened a new Quality Assurance facility in 2003 to ensure that Turner’s continues to produce only the highest quality products. The new facility expands product testing and creates space for more sophisticated testing equipment.

Turner Dairy Farms is also community minded. They contribute to charities, health and ducation.

Visit the Turner Dairy Farm web site at: http://www.turnerdairy.net/