Dear Friend,
I am pleased to announce that the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has officially announced the five-year continuation of Dairy Council of California. Thanks to the support of California dairy farmers, processors and families, Dairy Council of CA will be continuing its cause to elevate the health of children and communities in California by promoting lifelong healthy eating patterns. We are immensely proud of the overwhelming support we received during the CDFA public hearing in September and are excited to continue our vital work promoting the health benefits of milk and dairy foods and sustainable nutrition.
Read the full announcement in the recent press release.
2022-2023 Annual Report
On behalf of the entire Dairy Council of CA team and the board of directors, I am honored to share our 2022–2023 Annual Report with you. This report is intended to bring our cause to life, provide information about our programs and accomplishments
and highlight strong partnerships that allow us to authentically reach communities to collectively achieve nutrition and health outcomes. I am proud to work with a creative and diligent team of diverse thought leaders, registered dietitians, nutrition
advisers, instructors, marketing and communication professionals, and administrative staff to meet the needs of different communities through a wide array of nutrition programs and digital strategies.
Read the full 2022–2023 Annual
Report here.
Annual Industry Meeting
Dairy Council of CA, along with Dairy Institute of California and the California Milk Processor Board, hosted the Annual Dairy Industry Meeting in Santa Barbara, California, on November 12–15, 2023. In addition to hosting an insightful and successful board meeting, Dairy Council of CA invited guest speaker CDFA Secretary Karen Ross to share California’s Ag Vision for the Next Decade at the first joint session. Secretary Ross discussed how California dairy is leading the way in climate-smart agriculture practices across the world, as well as supporting healthy and resilient communities through investments in nutrition education and farm to school programs.
Additionally, CDFA is looking to fill three positions on the Dairy Producer Review Board. Interested producers should submit their applications by November 30, 2023. More information can be found here.
Update on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
In October, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released its next set of draft scientific protocols. The protocols are created and made available through DietaryGuidelines.gov for public comment before the committee reviews evidence for the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Dairy Council of CA submitted comments on the recent set of protocols, sharing scientific evidence highlighting research on dairy fats, the dairy matrix, bone health and dairy’s important contributions to the health of all Americans across the life span. Read our full public comments here.
FDA Virtual Public Meeting on Strategies to Reduce Added Sugars Consumption in the United States
On November 6–8, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a virtual public meeting and listening sessions titled Strategies to Reduce Added Sugars Consumption in the United States. The public meeting was livestreamed on YouTube. The meeting was an opportunity for representatives from government, industry and community settings to share strategies and approaches to reduce added sugars and provide oral comments to better guide future FDA actions. Strategies highlighted during the meeting included front-of-package labeling and marketing strategies to encourage supply and demand for “healthy” foods and beverages. The FDA will continue to review input received from the meeting, listening sessions and submitted written comments to determine next steps. This dialogue presents an opportunity for the California dairy community to share proactive innovations that have been made in reducing added sugars in dairy products, including the reformulation of flavored milk for schools. Public comments can be submitted electronically through January 22, 2024, at Regulations.gov.
Farm Bill Update
Congress passed a one year extension of the current Farm Bill to September 30, 2024, and is awaiting President Biden’s signature. The extension carries over programs such as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for another year.
Spotlight on Dairy Nutrition Research and Media
Dairy Council of CA joined leaders in the dairy industry for the panel discussion 2023 State of the Dairy Industry. The webinar, hosted by Dairy Foods Magazine, aired November 7. Listen to the full webinar here.
Dairy Council of CA’s recent opinion piece published in Agri-Pulse advocates for more healthy, dairy-inclusive meals to be integrated into California school lunch programs. Read the full article here.
If you have questions, concerns or feedback you would like to share, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
Amy DeLisio, CEO
Dairy Council of California
adelisio@DairyCouncilofCA.org