New USDA Program To Promote Organic Dairy Products For Youth
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the launch of the Organic Dairy Product Promotion (ODPP) program, allocating $15 million to expand access to organic dairy products in educational institutions and youth programs. The program is designed to increase consumption of organic dairy products among children and young adults while creating new opportunities for small and mid-sized organic dairy producers.
“Expanding access to a variety of organic dairy products in schools and community programs promotes healthy consumption habits and strengthens local dairy markets,” says Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs.
Through the program, agreements have been made with four main organizations: the University of California, Fresno; University of Tennessee; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets; and the University of Wisconsin. Each of these organizations currently leads one of the four Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives and can implement the ODPP program. Key objectives include:
• Increasing domestic consumption of organic dairy products among children and young adults;
• Diversifying dairy products offered in learning institutions and at other youth- and young-adult focused program sites; and
• Building partnerships with and networks of businesses involved in organic dairy product production and the distribution of organic dairy products within the lead organization’s region.
Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), which runs the University of Wisconsin Dairy Business Innovation Alliance in partnership with the Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin, shared its support for the Organic Dairy Product Promotion program.
“Dairy Business Innovation Alliance grants have launched and grown all kinds of dairy businesses, and we value the trust USDA has placed in us to boost organic dairy processing as well. We see this funding as an opportunity to increase young Americans’ access to delicious, nutritious dairy and strengthen rural communities,” says Rebekah Sweeney, senior director of programs and policy for WCMA.
Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), says IDFA also applauds USDA on this new effort to increase consumption of organic dairy products among children and young adults. “Programs like the Organic Dairy Product Promotion will work to improve access to nutritious dairy products for children and young Americans while building partnerships between dairy businesses and school districts,” Dykes says. “We encourage USDA to continue to focus on creative ways to increase consumption of nutritious dairy foods, including conventional organic, lactose-free and value-added dairy, especially among communities that historically under-consume nutritious dairy.”
Keep Up To Date On Cheese Industry News
Find all of HART Design & Manufacturing’s current industry news here.
Source: Cheese Market News
