The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association cheered the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s direction of $15 million to expand access to organic dairy products in schools and community youth programs.
The program aims to increase domestic consumption of organic dairy products among children and young adults. It also aims to diversify the dairy products offered. And finally, it aims to build partnerships among businesses involved in organic dairy product production and distribution.
The funding will be distributed through cooperative agreements with Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives. This includes the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance run by the Center for Dairy Research and WCMA. DBIA anticipates offering grants to organic dairy manufacturers before the end of this year.
“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,” says Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy. “We see this funding as an opportunity to increase young Americans’ access to delicious, nutritious dairy and strengthen rural communities.”
Since its inception in the 2018 Farm Bill, DBIA has awarded 213 grants totaling more than $16.5 million, conducted market research and product development projects, and delivered direct technical assistance to Midwestern dairy farmers and processors.
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