The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, has partnered with Georgia Milk Producers, Inc. to provide innovative milk delivery solutions in Georgia schools through a $200,000 commitment. This initiative will fund approximately 30 bulk milk dispensers across school cafeterias statewide, aiming to enhance the milk experience for students while reducing waste from traditional single-use cartons.
Matt Johnson, President of Georgia Milk's Board of Directors and a dairy farmer from Climax, Georgia, emphasized the importance of school feeding programs for children's health. "School feeding programs are critical to ensuring our children are building strong bones and healthy immune systems," Johnson stated. "Our dairy farmers are investing in these programs to cultivate healthier school environments and get students excited about drinking milk."
The funding removes a significant financial barrier for schools by covering the cost of bulk milk dispensers and necessary maintenance equipment. Will McWhirter, Youth Wellness Manager for Georgia, explained that "The Dairy Alliance's Dairy Optimization grants encourage schools to explore new ways to deliver nutritious dairy products to students." While traditional milk cartons have been used for decades, bulk milk dispensers offer improved meal experiences by providing milk in cups, reducing packaging waste, and supporting sustainability goals.
This initiative addresses concerning nutritional data showing that roughly three-quarters of children aged two through eighteen do not consume the daily recommended amount of real dairy. Evidence from a milk dispenser pilot program in Tennessee demonstrated significant improvements, with combined average milk consumption rising 29% and waste declining 14 points when milk was served from dispensers. Schools across the Southeast that have implemented milk dispenser grants consistently report an average increase of at least 14% in milk consumption.
The nutritional benefits of real dairy milk make this increased consumption particularly valuable. Milk delivers 13 essential nutrients including calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and high-quality protein. These nutrients provide energy for learning throughout the school day and support critical growth and development phases in children. For more information about The Dairy Alliance, visit https://thedairyalliance.com.
