Agricultural News
Midwest Dairy Helping Tell the Story of Undeniably Dairy to Today's Consumers
Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:54:53
Midwest Dairy is a part of the National Milk Checkoff Program that represents the dairy farmers in a ten-state area, including Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma. They work very closely with the National program, as well as developing their own programs that producers can use within their region. They have been active with Oklahoma schools with their collaborative program, Fuel up to Play 60 that provides nutrition education and research to child health and wellness.
Molly Pelzer, the Midwest Dairy CEO, says they are looking at fulfilling the vision and mission to bring dairy to life and give consumers an excellent dairy experience. What is an excellent dairy experience? Pelzer says, "We want consumers to choose dairy at least three times a day. Whether it's that cold glass of milk with a meal or a snack, or that wonderful pull of cheese on a cheese pizza, or anything they choose to have for dairy, that's what an excellent dairy experience is, and that's what we talk to consumers about."
With all of the dairy alternatives out now, sometimes it's hard to find the real milk in the milk section of the grocery store. They have been working on a dairy aisle reinvention program, and Pelzer says their work in retail is essential, "We want to help consumers slow down as they come to the dairy case and see all the wonderful options that they have and to be able to choose dairy with confidence."
As a registered dietician, Pelzer also loves talking about how nutritious dairy is, "I love to talk about the nine nutrients in dairy. They are unique, and they provide wonderful health benefits that you can't get anywhere else."
Allen Merrill, Midwest Dairy Corporate board chairman, says they have some exciting things coming up in 2020, "It's an opportunity to continue the strategies that we have, but the biggest thing is continuing our undeniably dairy program and expand on that. Its two years old, and we see an opportunity to keep growing it. People recognize the value in it right now, and it brings the whole dairy industry together. The collaboration of working together and sharing together what we know about our consumers with the processors, and sharing with the dairy farmers what we are doing on their behalf, and the research we are investing in to create new innovation."
Pelzer says they will continue to be active with the schools in Oklahoma, "Those students are 100% of our future. We want to make sure they have an excellent dairy experience. So working with school nutrition directors to make sure that milk, cheese, and yogurt are on the menu in an appealing way so that we have students that are well-nourished."
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear the complete interview with Molly Pelzer, and Allen Merrill as they talk with KC Sheperd.
You can also learn more about Midwest Dairy and their involvement in the eastern Oklahoma Dairy industry by clicking or tapping here.
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