As more and more U.S. schools are limiting availability of soft drinks for students, a U.S. trade organization representing soft drink manufacturers and distributors has moved toward self-policing. The American Beverage Association last month adopted a new school vending policy to limit availability of soft drinks in schools. The policy aims to replace those offerings with lower calorie and nutritious beverages including juice, water, sport drinks and no-calorie soft drinks.
Organic Valley Family of Farms, in cooperation with yogurt maker Stonyfield Farm has established a transition program that helps to provide supplemental funding for dairy farmers who choose to go organic. The transition fund's three-tier structure, is designed to meet the needs of each phase of transition, and offers $1 to $2 premiums per hundredweight during the process.