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JOHNSTOWN - After a tour of the Fage yogurt plant Thursday, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he was impressed with the "state of the art" facility and believes it is in a perfect location at the Johnstown Industrial Park.

Schumer met with local officials, including Fulton County Economic Development Corp. Vice President Jeff Bray, Johnstown Mayor Sarah Slingerland and Fulton County Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Wally Hart for a tour of the facility.

There, Schumer said he witnessed the creation of the facility's yogurt from beginning to end and called it an "impressive" process that belongs in the industrial park. He said Johnstown's location near a number of dairy farms as well as large metropolitan areas like New York City and Boston make it a perfect location for the plant.

The plant broke ground in 2006 and assumed full operations about a year ago.

Schumer said he and his family eat about 20 containers of the yogurt a week and he was interested in seeing the entire yogurt-making process.

"It's an amazing plant," he said. "It makes you proud."

Schumer also took the opportunity to talk about the lack of progress in the state Senate's power struggle. Legislators there have done little since a coup led by two dissident Democrats threw the chamber into turmoil three weeks ago.

"There are so many important things that need to get done," he said. "[Legislators in the state Senate] need to get their act together."

Slingerland said she hadn't seen the yogurt plant before and enjoyed the tour. She said it's unique for a community to have such a facility and said she was impressed by the operation.

She said she took the opportunity to thank Schumer for his actions in helping to secure Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to purchase a large new fire truck, the type of truck that would be particularly useful in fighting fires at large industrial facilities like those in the industrial park.

Fage President and Chief Operating Officer Ioannis Papageorgiou said Fage officials invited Schumer to visit and were glad he took them up on the offer.

"We don't really get involved in politics, but they are more than welcome to visit," he said.

Kayleigh Karutis can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.