Last week, Dairy Council of California hosted our annual staff conference at our Sacramento office, bringing together team members from across the organization to reconnect, align around our new Strategic Success Plan, and welcome back the Mobile Dairy Classroom team. Throughout the conference, staff participated in professional development sessions and received updates on the evolving regulatory landscape, strengthening the knowledge and skills needed to advance our work in the year ahead.
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A highlight of the conference was a tour of the H.P. Hood facility in Sacramento, led by board member Mike Newell, Freeman Covet and their team. The visit provided a firsthand look at the journey of milk from farm to processing plant and into grocery stores – bringing the farm-to-fork story to life for staff. We extend our sincere gratitude to the H.P. Hood team for their hospitality and expertise throughout the tour.
The conference concluded with a renewed sense of energy, connection, and purpose. Our team left inspired and ready for the year ahead, equipped to strengthen partnerships, advance nutrition education, and elevate the role of dairy in supporting the health and wellbeing of Californians.
Check out the rest of this newsletter for regulatory updates, new resources and pertinent media and research updates.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration announced their Harvest to Hallways Initiative which will invest in healthier school meals through expanded local food purchasing, up to $70 million in cafeteria infrastructure improvements, and additional Farm to School grants.
This initiative may benefit dairy by creating new markets for local milk and dairy foods in schools which help students access nutrient-rich dairy as part of balanced meals.
California AB 2244 has been passed and now resides at the governor’s desk. The legislation put forward a voluntary “Non-Ultraprocessed Certified” label, requiring the state to accredit certifiers and create a standardized seal for foods that meet the bill’s criteria for not being ultra-processed. The measure is intended to help consumers identify less-processed food options, while creating new labeling and certification requirements for food manufacturers and retailers. The topic of ultra-processed foods (UPF’s) continues to gain momentum with both opportunities and risks for nutritious dairy foods. Dairy Council of CA has developed a scientific summary to support the dairy community and policy makers as they engage in regulatory dialogues related to UPF’s.
Last month, we shared comments with the CA Department of Healthcare Services on the Community Supports Policy Guide: Volume 1, a resource that helps Medi-Cal Managed Care health plans implement Community Supports programs, including Medically Tailored Meals and Medically Supportive Foods. Our comments emphasized the importance of including nutrient-dense dairy foods in these programs to improve health outcomes and reduce chronic disease risk.
View public comments here: Medically Tailored Food 2026
Join Dairy Council of California in celebrating World School Milk Day on September 30! This special day is an opportunity to raise awareness of milk in school meal programs and highlight the important role milk plays in supporting children’s nutrition, health and learning.
Bring the celebration to your local school with engaging resources and activities that build dairy and agriculture literacy while showcasing the nutritional benefits of milk and dairy foods.
Explore the toolkit!
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