FrontDesk
Dairy Isn’t Going Anywhere, but We Need to Take Risks and Use Facts to Evolve BY MIKE SUEVER, PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NDFA
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n my role as president of the NDFA board of directors and in my capacity at Hood, I am constantly faced with many questions and concerns surrounding the idea that dairy consumption is becoming less and less relevant. While this might make great headlines, it is, in essence, a far cry from the truth. Think about it. The dairy industry does a remarkable job of getting fresh nutritious products to every retail location in the entire country every day. Even in parts of our country considered “food deserts,” or areas where there are few, if any, nutritious products available, fresh fluid milk is almost always on the shelves. So why is the word on the street that no one is drinking milk anymore? Everyone from the media to the anti-animal agriculture advocates seems to be taking shots at our industry, while spreading erroneous messages to the general public that the dairy case is to be avoided. These messages may make good headlines, but those of us in the industry know that there are plenty of milk myths that need to be debunked. This issue of Northeast Dairy addresses this topic with some of our features. “Who Drinks Milk Anymore?” disproves some of the myths with solid statistics from the American Dairy Association and Dairy Management, Inc. — information that each of us can arm ourselves with as we advocate strongly for our industry. Another feature, “MilkPEP Offers Strategic Campaigns to Increase Consumption,” focuses on the efforts the organization is making to show that milk is fuel. Milk is nutrition. Milk is good for you! Even if you’re not specifically a milk processor, this article can help you spread this message — backed by scientists and nutritionists — and promote
Everyone from the media to the anti-animal agriculture advocates seems to be taking shots at our industry, while spreading erroneous messages to the general public that the dairy case is to be avoided. — MIKE SUEVER
consumption of milk and other dairy products. Collectively, we need to focus on promoting the things that ARE great about milk — vitamins, minerals, protein and overall deliciousness. The nutrition drum is one that we should be beating loudly as an industry at a time when many are trying to push milk aside. Dairy in itself isn’t going anywhere, but it does need to evolve and keep pace with consumer trends, tastes and buying habits. Unfortunately, due to outdated regulations (continued on next page) NED Magazine | First Quarter 2020 • 3
