CLEVELAND — S.A.E. Afikim (Afimilk) has established its North American base and a logistics center in Massillon, Ohio.
Beginning. S.A.E. Afikim (Afimilk), founded in 1977, is an Israeli-based leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing cutting-edge computerized systems for modern dairy farm milk production and herd management.
The company’s independent business, S.A.E. Afikim USA (Afimilk USA) will serve North American dairy farmers, and its new Ohio-based logistics center will employ dairy professionals to provide in-depth know-how and support.
“Establishing Afimilk USA’s North American logistics center in Ohio is a major success — for Ohio’s business and its agriculture,” said Sam Hoenig, president of The Negev Foundation, Cleveland.”
Initiative
Since 2004, the Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative of the Negev Foundation presented S.A.E. Afikim in the Israel Agriculture Pavilion at the annual Farm Science Review in London, Ohio, and served as a resource to the company’s activities in Ohio.
The Initiative also sponsored delegations of Ohio farmers and agribusinesses to Israel, where the participants were hosted by S.A.E. Afikim, saw the Afimilk system in various dairy farms throughout Israel, visited the Afimilk booths at Israeli trade shows, and toured the Afimilk facility at Kibbutz Afikim.
Value to farmer
As a result of these initiative-sponsored activities, many Ohio dairy farmers are aware of the Afimilk products and their value to the farmer.
“The agricultural and trade missions to Israel were meant to connect with Israeli agribusinesses that may have an interest in expanding in the United States, and specifically Ohio,” said Hoenig.
“We continued building our relationship with S.A.E. Afikim and promoted Ohio’s agriculture and the benefits of Ohio as a place to do business. We are thrilled that S.A.E. Afikim has made the decision to locate their North American logistics center in Ohio and are grateful to have helped in that process.”
The Ohio-Israel Agricultural Initiative is a unique, not-for-profit, bi-national organization linking the agricultural and business sectors of Ohio and Israel through trade opportunities, educational programs, and research and development.
“Our mission is to create new business opportunities for both Ohio and Israel,” said Sarah Horowitz, program director of the Initiative. “Having Afimilk USA open operations in Ohio is just one example of the successes these relationships can bring.”
