Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms, Lansdale, Penn., donated 80 tickets to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Philadelphia kids and their families who are facing significant challenges. The Circus was held last month at Philadelphia's Wachovia Spectrum. "We are thrilled that we can do something to bring joy to children in our region," says Wendy Esch, brand marketing director for Lehigh Valley.

China's Bright Dairy & Food Co. Ltd. and Shanghai-based food maker Meilin Co. Ltd. have agreed to construct an ice cream plant with a total of more than 10 production lines and an annual capacity of up to 40,000 tons. Bright Dairy, is 3.85% owned by Groupe Danone.

Danone, one of world's largest food producers, increased sales of dairy products in Russia in 2003 by 34% in comparison to 2002.

In 2003, Danone sold 89,900 tons of dairy products in Russia in comparison to 67,000 tons in 2002.

Of all products sold Danone produced 78,800 tons or 87.6% in Russia.

Bankrupt Parmalat says it has sold its 89.79 % stake in its Parmalat Thailand Ltd. unit to Dutch-German dairy group Campina International Holding BV. The Thai company was sold for a symbolic $1, and Parmalat will report a $4.1 million (EUR) capital loss on the deal, it said.

Roberts Dairy, Omaha, Neb., will donate a portion of the company-wide sales of all Roberts orange juice in March and April to the Iowa, Kansas City and Omaha-Council Bluffs chapters of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Roberts has contributed more than $50,000 to JDRF during the last four years.

Back by popular demand, IDFA's Advanced HACCP Short Course for the Dairy and Juice Industries has been added to the organization's spring education schedule. The course will be held May 25-26 at the Doubletree Hotel Nashville in Nashville, Tenn.

The 83rd annual Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest has been scheduled for November 4-6 at the Publix Super Markets' dairy plant in Lakeland, Fla. The competition is sponsored by the Foundation of the International Association of Food Industry Suppliers (IAFIS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Nestlé and New Zealand's Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. have announced the second phase of implementation of Dairy Partners Americas (DPA). Through the creation of individual joint ventures at country level, it will cover Ecuador, Colombia, and Trinidad & Tobago. The alliance partners plan on a joint venture for the manufacture of basic milk powders in Ecuador and Colombia, respectively, a joint venture for the manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of dairy chilled and liquid products in Ecuador and a dairy chilled and liquid joint venture in Trinidad & Tobago.