Price of milk likely to increase, a result of N.B. plant closure

Consumers in New Brunswick should expect to pay more for milk as a result of the closure of the Saputo plant in Saint John.

The company announced the closure Thursday, to take effect a year from now, with the loss of about 70 jobs.

READ: Saputo closing two facilities, laying off 280 workers

Paul Gaunce, chairman of the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick, said farmers would have to ship their milk as far as Victoriaville, Que., or Dartmouth, N.S., for processing.

"The logistics to arrange trucks to go that further distance is mind-boggling. It's hard enough to get the milk picked up and delivered to Saint John, but when you have to start having it hauled to Victoriaville or Dartmouth, it's a logistical nightmare," Gaunce said Saturday in an interview.

He said the added cost was paid by the farmers but would eventually be passed along to consumers--about two cents per litre.

"We'll figure out the logistics somehow, but it's not good for the long-term viability of the dairy industry in the Maritimes. We are short of capacity for processing now," he said.

Gaunce said farmers have a year to prepare. There are 176 dairy farmers in New Brunswick.

The Saint John plant, which was originally Baxter's Dairy, has operated since 1931.

Montreal-based Saputo also announced Thursday it would close a plant in Trenton, Ont., in September, affecting about 210 employees.

Gaunce said it wasn't likely that another plant would open in New Brunswick, but much of that would depend on the impact of the new North American free trade agreement.