They are hoping that customers will pay a premium for product with extended shelf life, according to Jonathan Underhill of 3 News in Auckland. The Co-op has put in place two new specifications – a medium heat SMP of less than 120 days at time of departure and regular WMP with less than 90 days at day of departure.
Milk powders have a shelf life of up to two years and there will be no difference in the product other than customers will have more time to sell it. Josh Sigmund from Fonterra said: “Some customers have been asking for a tighter age range at time of shipment and we are proposing to offer that new specification.” Fonterra said volumes of these shorter times from the factory products would vary throughout the season and would not guarantee it would be available all through the year.
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