FINLAND/USA – Valio, Finland’s largest milk processor and food producer, has signed a letter of intent to sell its McCadam Cheese brand to American dairy farmer cooperative, Agri-Mark.

The deal includes the cheese manufacturing assets in Chateaugay, NY, which produces New York Cheddar, Muenster and Colby cheeses.

The purchase is dependent on the merger between Agri-Mark and the Chateaugay Cooperative of around 150 members who are currently the co-owners of the facility with Valio. Members of both cooperatives are due to vote on the merger and it has been reported that officials expect to have the deal completed by the end of January.

Agri-Mark, which had sales of $625 million (