Jon Harris

jharris@pressconnects.com | @PSBJonHarris

An iconic Binghamton South Side production hub will soon have its usefulness restored.

This time around, however, the former Crowley plant, on Conklin Avenue, will pump out specialized kosher products as Mountain Fresh Dairy.

"It's been a long time coming, and we're excited to bring it to fruition," said Nathan Hassan, one of four partners in Mountain Fresh Dairy, during a news conference Wednesday.

Mountain Fresh anticipates hiring 85 to 90 employees over the next 2 ½ years, many of whom are expected to be former HP Hood workers who lost their jobs at the plant in mid-2012. While there is not yet an official start date for production, Hassan said Mountain Fresh will perform testing within the next month.

For Broome County and City of Binghamton officials, the forthcoming entry of Mountain Fresh to the area can't come soon enough, especially since the massive facility at 135 Conklin Ave. has sat vacant for more than two years. The plant was tailor-made for dairy production nearly a century ago, limiting the number of buyers it could attract.

"This is obviously, as you can see, a building that is a one-use building," said Kevin McLaughlin, executive director of the Broome County Industrial Development Agency. "If these gentlemen wouldn't have stepped up to take on this project, I like to say, it would have fallen into the river someday."

Crowley Foods' presence in Binghamton started in 1915. In 2004, Crowley Foods, then a division of National Dairy Holdings, was acquired by HP Hood.

But in December 2011, HP Hood informed Broome County officials it would cease production at the Conklin Avenue dairy processing plant and warehouse in Binghamton. The last day for milk production at the plant was in March 2012, and more than 50 employees were let go by June of that year.

Mountain Fresh Dairy bought 135 Conklin Ave. for $150,000 in April 2013, according to the Broome County property database.

By the end of 2013, Mountain Fresh had secured $400,000 in loan financing — $200,000 each from the Broome County IDA and the Binghamton Local Development Corporation — to assist in the purchasing of machinery and equipment for the plant.

Mountain Fresh has also invested about $2 million to get the plant ready for production.

When operational, the plant will produce Cholov Yisrael dairy products, which are under the highest standards of kosher supervision, officials said. Milk will be the primary item produced at the plant, though Mountain Fresh plans to expand to Greek yogurt and hard cheeses.

Products from the facility will serve East Coast markets, including New York, Miami, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Gary Bensley, plant and project manager, said four former Crowley employees have been hired so far and Mountain Fresh has already received numerous applications from others.

For Binghamton Mayor Richard David, getting the old Crowley dairy plant filled with a company, activity and workers ensures the historic South Side structure won't become an eyesore anytime soon.

"I just can't underscore the significance of having this group come in, step up to the plate and invest a significant amount of money to take what was a concept on a drawing board and make it a reality," David said.

Follow Jon Harris on Twitter @PSBJonHarris.

History of 135 Conklin Ave., Binghamton

• In 1915, J.K. Crowley moved Crowley Dairy Company to Binghamton from Poughkeepsie. In 1904, Crowley had bought a dairy company for $500 in Poughkeepsie.

• In 1983, Dutch-based Koninklijke Wessanen acquired Crowley Foods for $16.4 million.

• In 2001, National Dairy Holdings purchased Crowley from Koninklijke Wessanen for $400 million.

• In 2004, HP Hood LLC acquired Crowley from National Dairy Holdings for an undisclosed amount.

• In December 2011, HP Hood said it would cease production at the Conklin Avenue dairy processing plant and warehouse. The last day for milk production at the plant was in March 2012.

• In April 2013, Mountain Fresh Dairy bought 135 Conklin Ave. for $150,000.