Bringing Together Student, School Nutrition & Dairy Leaders

Leaders and allied partners from school nutrition and the California dairy community came together for a state-level event with a goal of visioning equitable and sustainable solutions for school meals and scholar success. Well-Nourished, Brighter Futures: Dairy Dialogue was designed to foster collaboration, address pressing challenges and create actionable solutions for visioning the future opportunities  of dairy in school meals. 

Hosted by Dairy Council of California and made possible by generous sponsorship from California Cattle Council and Sysco Sacramento, the dialogue brought together thought leaders to explore critical topics, including the latest research on the importance of dairy in children’s growth and development, sustainability efforts happening on the farm and throughout the dairy supply chain, and innovative approaches to meet evolving school meal requirements. Featuring keynote speakers, industry experts and three GENYOUth National Youth Council students, the interactive discussions were aimed at strengthening the connection between California’s dairy community and school nutrition programs. 

“The challenges for most school districts are simply meeting the needs of the students,” said Richard Andrews, Nutrition Services Administrator for Kern High School District and California School Nutrition Association president. “The nutritional food served needs to catch their eye and keep up with the fads and cultural preferences. The event was a great opportunity to strategize and plan collectively for the future of student nutrition and school food supplies, information and resources.”  

Among the event’s highlights, this exclusive dialogue united leaders across California to foster collaborative discussions, address critical challenges, and create actionable steps to: 

• Promote the Role of Dairy in School Meals 
  Discussed recent U.S. Department of Agriculture final rule changes to strengthen dairy’s positive position within school meal programs while meeting new sodium and sugar standards.
• Focus on Sustainability 
  Explored strategies for waste reduction, local purchasing, and navigating new California packaging laws as schools embrace sustainability.
• Review the Nutrition Landscape & Visualize Equitable, Sustainable Solutions 
  Engaged in collaborative breakout sessions with school foodservices, dairy processors, youth, state agencies, and allied organizations to envision solutions that benefit student health and foster long-term success.

“By opening up dialogues across different sectors, we collectively worked together to identify barriers and opportunities that will ensure school meals remain nutritious, sustainable and accessible for every student in California,” said Dairy Council of California CEO Amy DeLisio, MPH, RDN. 

As California continues to lead the way in school food system transformation, Well-Nourished, Brighter Futures: Dairy Dialogue serves as a powerful example of collaboration. Together, the school nutrition and dairy communities are shaping a healthier, more sustainable future for students across the state. 

About Dairy Council of California
Dairy Council of California is a nutrition organization working together with champions to elevate the health of children and communities through lifelong healthy eating patterns. Focusing on education, advocacy, dairy ag literacy and collaboration, Dairy Council of California advances the health benefits of milk and dairy foods as part of the solution to achieving nutrition security and sustainable food systems. Learn more at DairyCouncilofCA.org