As the coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to spread, the Novi, Mich.-based Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) said it remains steadfast in its mission to market members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible while taking actions to protect the health and safety of its communities.

To facilitate the distribution of food during the COVID-19 pandemic, FDA released a guidance document on March 26 to provide restaurants and food manufacturers with flexibility regarding nutrition labeling of certain packaged food.

Maple Hill Creamery, a Kinderhook, N.Y.-based producer of grass-fed organic dairy products, said it partnered with New York State's Department of Agriculture and Markets, on behalf of Governor Cuomo and nonprofit Feeding America, to distribute 200,000 cartons of its grass-fed organic milk and grass-fed yogurt to residents in need.

As of March 26, 22 U.S. states had issued stay-at-home orders, and many “nonessential” businesses had closed. But food and beverage manufacturers, including dairy processors, continue to operate as part of a subset of industries deemed essential to continued critical infrastructure viability.

The closure of workplaces and schools nationwide in the last several weeks is leading to increasing food insecurity for many Americans, including low-income families, housebound individuals and children unable to access free school breakfast and lunch.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has upended life as we have known it for most Americans, the U.S. dairy industry — from our farmers to our truckers to our processors and our grocers — has diligently persisted in providing Americans with the safe, nutritious, high-quality dairy products they rely on.

Today’s dairy leaders are redefining what it means to be sustainable businesses by elevating good business practices, developing and implementing transportation and logistics solutions, ensuring the highest standards for animal welfare, and committing to and achieving environmental stewardship throughout their supply chains.

Due to concerns related to the coronavirus outbreak, Dairy Foods magazine and the American Dairy Products Institute said they postponed the Membrane Technology Forum.

Maola Local Dairies, a brand of the Reston, Va.-based Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, said it donated more than 45,000 half-pints of chocolate and 1% white milk last week to three Virginia food banks.