Ep 12. Purity Dairies

In John Ratzenberger's Made in America season 1 episode 12, viewers are taken on a journey to Purity Dairies, a family-owned and operated milk processing plant in Nashville, Tennessee. John Ratzenberger, known for his role on the popular television show Cheers, explores the history and processes behind the dairy industry.

The episode begins with John meeting with Mark Ezell, the president of Purity Dairies. Mark shares the history of the company, which began in 1926 when his grandfather started selling milk from a horse-drawn wagon. Today, Purity Dairies is a state-of-the-art facility that processes over 40 million gallons of milk each year.

John is then taken on a tour of the facility to see how the milk is processed and bottled. He learns about the various stages of milk production, from pasteurization to homogenization, and even gets to try his hand at bottling milk on the production line.

Throughout the episode, John speaks with various employees at Purity Dairies, from the milk truck drivers to the quality control team. He learns about their dedication to ensuring high-quality milk products, and how they work to maintain the Purity Dairies brand.

One of the most interesting aspects of the episode is learning about the different types of milk products that Purity Dairies produces. John speaks with the team responsible for creating new milk flavors, and even gets to try some of the unique concoctions, such as chocolate banana milk.

Another important part of the episode is exploring the challenges that dairy farmers face today. John visits a local dairy farm to learn about the difficulties of running a small family farm in today's economy. He also talks with Mark about the challenges of keeping the dairy industry competitive in a world where almond and soy milk are becoming increasingly popular.

Overall, John Ratzenberger's visit to Purity Dairies is a fascinating look at the dairy industry in America. From learning about the history of the company to exploring the challenges it faces today, this episode provides a well-rounded view of the importance of dairy farming and milk production in the United States.