UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Turner Dairy Farms Inc. has committed $50,000 to name a laboratory in memory of the late James G. Turner in the new Food Science Building, to be built on Penn State's University Park campus.

The James G. Turner Dairy Products Microbiology and Characterization Laboratory will be part of the 98,000-square-foot Food Science Building, which is slated to be completed by spring 2005 at an estimated cost of $22 million.

"Dairy products are a critical component of the commonwealth's food industry, and this laboratory will help us continue to provide cutting-edge research to support dairy-related businesses," says John D. Floros, head of Penn State's food science department. "We are deeply grateful to the Turner family for sharing our vision, and for facilitating our future efforts in this area."

"Penn State food science has played a key role in the dairy-processing industry as well as in the success of our family business," says Charles H. Turner Jr. "James, my father and I all graduated from food-science-based programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences."

"The family discussed many ways to honor Jim's tremendous contributions to our family business and the dairy industry; supporting the Food Science Building project seemed to be the right thing to do to honor his memory."

Research to be conducted at the laboratory will examine the effects of processing variables on ice cream structure and the effects of preprocessing treatments on the survival of beneficial bacteria in dairy foods, among other studies.

The lab also will support activities such as short courses, workshops and technical assistance for Pennsylvania food processing companies.

The Turner family owns and operates Turner Dairy Farms in suburban Pittsburgh. This family-run business focuses on institutional markets, including restaurants, convenience stores, hotels and hospitals. Its specialty creams and dairy products have made it the primary provider of dairy products for Pittsburgh restaurants.

Turner Dairy Farms is the principal supplier of dairy products to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center hospitals and Eat 'N Park restaurants. The business also owns and operates more than 70 convenience stores, and recently built a 14,000-square-foot case handling and cold tank room at its Penn Hills location.

The business was started with four cows and a car in 1930 by Charles G. Turner. His son, James G. Turner, a 1951 dairy science graduate, owned and operated the business along with his brothers, Walter M. Turner and Charles H. Turner Sr., for many years.

Today, the business is operated by Walter, Charles Sr., a 1965 dairy science graduate, and his son, Charles Jr., a 1986 food science graduate. Eight family members are involved in the day-to-day management and operation of the business.

Penn State's new Food Science Building will help the university better serve the needs of Pennsylvania's food-processing and manufacturing industry, which includes more than 2,300 companies employing 90,000 workers.

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EDITORS: For more information, contact John Krumrine at 814-863-1168.

Contact:

Eston Martz ecm3@psu.edu 814-863-3587 814-865-1068 fax