Upstate New York: Greek Yogurt, Feta Capital

Upstate New York's surging Greek yogurt industry may find its next foothold in Canastota - and two companies are seeking state money to help make it happen. A company called Ariston Dairy Products wants to invest $32.1 million in a plant that would make Greek yogurt and Greek-style feta cheese. It is seeking a $1.3 million state economic development grant to support the project, and another $1.3 million in tax credits. The project, still in its early planning stages, would be located in the former Diemolding Corp. manufacturing plant on Rasbach Street, according to Canastota Mayor Carla DeShaw. Diemolding still has its corporate offices there, but moved its manufacturing to nearby Wampsville in 2009. Queensboro Farm Products, meanwhile, which has a dairy processing plant across from the Diemolding site on Rasbach Street, has what Dishaw called a 'separate but complementary' plan to spend $2.2 million to upgrade equipment and renovate its building.

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