Five dairy farmers representing Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota and California held a press conference on Monday to help bring awareness to the dropping milk price and the rising cost of inputs. It comes at a time when the price for class I milk dropped more than $5 since September, along with a $7.20 drop for class IV milk. To … Read More
N'tl Milk Processor Board Has New Members
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer has announced the appointment of three incumbents and six new members to the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. This board is composed of 15 fluid milk processors from 15 geographic regions and five at-large members. At least three at-large members must be fluid milk processors and at least one must be from … Read More
Winn Dixie to Sell Two Plants
Winn-Dixie Stores said it has agreed to sell its two dairy plants, located in Hammond, La., and Plant City, to Southeast Milk. Winn-Dixie said in a release that it is choosing to focus more on its retail operation. Once this sale is complete, its only remaining manufacturing operation will be the Chek Cola plant in Fitzgerald, Ga. During the transition, … Read More
Utah Newest State to Review Labeling Laws
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is another state that is now considering changing regulations in regards to false or misleading dairy labeling. As has been the case in other states, critics have been outspoken in their views to the change. The administrative rule under consideration prohibits companies from making false or misleading statements about milk and dairy products … Read More
Canadian Milk No Longer Crossing Border
Four Canadian dairy producers will no longer be shipping their milk into the U.S., something that they had been doing illegally, potentially disrupting trade balances. “The milk that’s come over the border is a drop in the bucket,” said Jessica Chittenden, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. “But it’s the principle. Here are farmers producing milk … Read More
Starbucks Wearing Milk Mustache
The last several times I’ve stopped at Starbucks for a quick pick-me-up, I’ve noticed appealing new signs touting the benefits of milk in the coffee house’s lattes. Now I read that Starbucks has created a print ad featuring one of their baristas wearing a milk mustache. What do you think of it? The ad features coffeehouse barista Young Han wearing … Read More
Kansas Joins in the Debate
Dairy farmers in Kansas have worked with their legislators to propose a bill that would stop misleading labels on dairy products in that state. Kansas follows the lead of Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey who have all debated the same issue. A proposed bill in Topeka would stop dairy companies from labeling milk from cows that are given certain hormones. … Read More
Fresh Products In Demand
Enterprising dairy farmers looking for a new niche are turning to dairy products made on-farm in small batches. They are finding consumers, chefs and artisan connoisseurs are very appreciative and excited about their products. These artisanal operations are turning cow, goat or sheep milk into simple, straightforward foods like crème fraîche, butter, buttermilk, ice cream, puddings, custards, yogurt, yogurt-based sauces … Read More
Idaho Joins in Milk Toast
The state of Idaho has declared milk the official state beverage. The bill was passed this week, following on the heels of 2007’s $2 billion dairy industry in the state. While the bill has drawn humor, it is intended to decrease childhood obesity, said its sponsor, Rep. Branden Durst, D-Boise. He said that soda pop consumption continues to rise while … Read More
Safeway Annouces Art Winners
The grocery chain, Safeway Inc. has named 30 students ages 12 to 19 in their third annual “The Art of Dairy” art contest to promote the company’s private label milk brand Lucerne. These 30 students will apply their designs to life-sized cows in competition for the grand prizes. The contest, named after Safeway’s private label dairy brand, draws thousands of … Read More