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Turner's Dairy Rises To The Top With National Awards

PENN HILLS (KDKA) -- Turner's Dairy produces 40,000 gallons of milk each day, and 30,000 gallons of iced tea and other drinks. But that's small-time compared with mega-dairies that sprawl across the nation.

And yet, the family business in Penn Hills wins more national gold medals than anyone else.

"It's kind of neat," says company president Chuck Turner. "It's, I guess, just a recognition of the hard work our farmers and our employees do."

Chuck Turner's the third generation president. His son Steve may some day be the fourth. Eleven family members are among the 150 employees. Chuck's grandfather, Charlie Turner, started it all with four cows and a tractor in 1930.

"It just grew from there, just one customer at a time," his grandson says.

The cows are gone. The cinderblock barn is now a laboratory, where technicians test for bacteria and taste.

"All of our milk comes from family farms in surrounding counties," Chuck Turner says. "Forty-five family farms in Westmoreland, Indiana, Cambria and Armstrong Counties."

Home delivery of milk ended in the year 2000. But, according to the company, the cream still rises to the top.

Turner's recently won two national gold medals in Wisconsin and six more in Los Angeles.

"Judging dairy products is kind of like wine tasting," Chuck Turner says. "You taste it, swish it around in your mouth, spit it our in the sink, and you write down the score."

Old Charlie Turner would be proud.

"The company runs the way that my dad and my uncle wanted to," Chuck Turner says. "And the way that my grandfather would have wanted it run. There's not any choice about that."

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