Congress recently passed COVID-19-relief legislation that includes significant resources to help USDA provide nutritious food to families in need through the remainder of the pandemic. This has resulted in the creation of new food distribution programs, as well as changes to existing ones. It’s imperative that dairy is included in these programs as seamlessly as possible given the amount of nutritional value dairy products provide.
The Dairy Donation Program, one of the new initiatives, will encourage dairy producers and processors to donate dairy products to food-insecure families. This is a positive for multiple reasons, including that the program will also help minimize food waste by providing another possible home for milk that might otherwise be dumped, particularly during periods of high production.