Starting this December, 17 regional dairy brands owned by Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) will help fill a real need at food pantries across the country with the donation of more than 2 million shelf-stable “The Giving Cow” milk products.

USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh announced on Aug. 25 the establishment of a $400 million Dairy Donation Program (DDP) on a call with Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow. 

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, in partnership with the Arden Hills, Minn.-based Land O’Lakes Foundation, said it distributed 2,160 gallons of Maola milk in New Windsor, Md., on May 30, 2020.

Good Shepherd Food Bank, Pineland Farms Dairy Company Inc., Libra Foundation and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) will distribute thousands of pounds of cheese to food-insecure Mainers through Maine’s emergency food distribution network, Bangor, Maine-based Pineland Farms Dairy said.

On May 8, USDA said it approved $1.2 billion in contracts to support American producers and communities in need through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Jamba, an Atlanta-based provider of on-the-go freshly blended fruit and vegetable smoothies, made-to-order bowls, fresh-squeezed juices and shots, boosts and bites, announced a partnership with Dannon North America brands Oikos Greek yogurt and So Delicious Dairy Free to help honor front-line heroes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The contributions will be spread across the 10 states Midwest Dairy represents, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, to help meet the increased demand for dairy products during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a time when many Americans are facing unprecedented hardships as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the family farm-owners and employees of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a Kansas City, Kan., headquartered national dairy cooperative, are stepping up to provide nutritious dairy products to those in need.