IDFA Applauds USDA's $15 Million Investment in Organic Dairy Promotion for Schools

USA 06.11.2024

Source: DairyNews.today

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has launched a new initiative, the Organic Dairy Product Promotion (ODPP) program, with $15 million earmarked to expand access to organic dairy products in educational institutions and youth programs. The initiative is designed to promote healthier dairy consumption habits among children and young adults by improving the availability of organic dairy in schools.

IDFA Applauds USDA's $15 Million Investment in Organic Dairy Promotion for Schools

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), praised the USDA's efforts, highlighting the critical role of dairy in youth nutrition. "The Dietary Guidelines for Americans indicate a significant gap in dairy consumption among school-aged children, with 68% to 76.2% of males and 77.4% to 94.3% of females not meeting recommended dairy intake levels," Dykes noted. "The ODPP will help bridge this gap by fostering partnerships between dairy businesses and school districts to improve access to nutritious organic dairy products."

Dykes further encouraged the USDA to explore innovative approaches to increase dairy consumption, not only in organic but also in conventional, lactose-free, and value-added categories, especially within communities that traditionally consume less dairy.