USDA organic dairy promotion opens schools to small organic dairies

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service has announced the launch of the Organic Dairy Product Promotion program, allocating $15 million to expand access to organic dairy products in educational institutions and youth programs.

Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA under secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs during a visit to Vermont in late October. Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation, the program will 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,” Moffitt said. “Announcing the Organic Dairy Product Promotion program during National Farm to School Month is yet another way to celebrate USDA’s commitment to connecting producers to new, local markets and providing youth with healthy, fresh dairy products from nearby farms.”

Through the program, Agricultural Marketing Services will enter into cooperative agreements with four lead organizations: the University of California, Fresno; University of Tennessee; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets; and University of Wisconsin. Each of these organizations currently leads one of the four Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives and, therefore, is uniquely positioned to implement the dairy promotion program. Key program objectives include:

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The lead organizations will develop region-specific projects to distribute organic dairy products to K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and other youth and young adult focused programs and institutions. Lead organizations may also subaward funds for procurement to dairy businesses, educational institutions including K-12 schools and colleges/universities, or other organizations with industry expertise to implement the program.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture