Celebrating 125 years of Dairy Foods
We take a look back at the dairy industry since the magazine’s founding in 1899.
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Queens and Staten Island merged with New York City. The Bronx Zoo opened. The inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, was coaching Kansas University’s new basketball team. The Spanish-American War peace treaty was ratified. Voting machines were approved for federal elections. Ohio Republican William McKinley was president.
Fred Astaire, Alfred Hitchcock, Duke Ellington, James Cagney and Al Capone were all born. Babe Ruth, the “Sultan of Swat,” was just a 4-year-old child.
We are referring to 1899, when Dairy Foods (via its predecessor Dairy Record) was established. Although we believe Dairy Record was first published in 1899, no copies of the first issue are known to exist. In fact, the 16th issue, published on August 21, 1900, is the earliest issue still in existence.
In 1900, Dairy Record spanned 12 pages, common for the time period. On the first page of that issue in the news section, under a section called “Creamery Notes,” Dairy Record reports: “The Medford Creamery Assn. shipped 2,375 pounds of butter this week to New York. The Champeny, S.D., creamery paid 16 cents per pound for July butter.”
We know 1899 was the first publication because of a 25th anniversary issue printed in 1924, In this issue, Otto Frederick Hunziker, considered a pioneer in the American and international dairy industry, wrote that “During these many years of activities, the Dairy Record has stood for those great fundamentals that make for the constructive building up of the butter-making industry. It has always stood for the principles that underlie and stimulate economy of production and high quality of the product…unflinching stand on the right side of every big issue and of every important question confronting the dairy industry. It has proven to be an organ instilled with the courage of its convictions.”
Photos courtesy of Getty Images / Retrofile RF and kajakiki / istock./ Getty Images.
In January 1986, Dairy Record changed its name to the current Dairy Foods moniker. The reason for this change was to “record less of what has gone by and project more of what is to come,” according to an editorial by Jerry Dryer.
Twenty-five years ago, Dairy Foods “partied like it is 1999” with a big celebration in honor of its 100th anniversary. At that time, Chief Editor Dave Fusaro wrote: “It is our sincere hope that the above can still be said about Dairy Foods, and will continue to be said as we start our second 100 years.”
The 100th anniversary issue also named five members to “Dairy’s Hall of Fame.” Honored were J.L. Kraft, H.P. Hood, Sam Dean, Gail Borden and John Brandt, with Dairy Foods stating, “Passion, pluck and personality were shared by [these] dairy founders.”
Today, we laud and honor 125 years of Dairy Foods. Now, we can say, “Here’s to the next 125 years of Dairy Foods.” We look forward to that retrospective in 2149.
Quasquicentennial
Dairy Foods reached out to several industry associations who we work with to get their reaction about our quasquicentennial. Here are some responses we received:
“Dairy Foods magazine has played a pivotal role in chronicling the evolution of the dairy industry, serving as an essential resource for 125 years. It has illuminated crucial developments, from the adoption of pasteurization to automation, and the growing field of dairy nutrition and food science. Dairy Foods has truly shaped progress in a sector that continues to evolve with changing consumer wants and needs.” —Geri Berdak, CEO, The Dairy Alliance
“Congratulations, Dairy Foods, on 125 years of delivering timely, valuable news and information on the dairy industry. PMMI has enjoyed contributing to the many articles you’ve published, keeping the industry updated on the latest in dairy packaging and processing. We also appreciate your support over the years of our PACK EXPO shows. The dairy industry has seen vast amounts of change in 125 years, and we’ll continue to look at you as a valued source of information for trends, innovation, and insights.” —Tom Egan, vice president of Industry Services for PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
“Congratulations to Dairy Foods magazine on 125 years of continuous publication! For more than a century, Dairy Foods has been a trusted resource, chronicling the evolution and innovation within the dairy industry. The magazine has provided invaluable insight into groundbreaking moments, from advancements in dairy processing and sustainability to shifts in consumer preferences and nutrition. In doing so, it has played a crucial role in shaping and sharing the industry's rich history. The International Dairy Foods Association is proud to celebrate this milestone and looks forward to many more years of partnership and progress with Dairy Foods.” —Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO, International Dairy Foods Association
125 years of dairy history
To honor this golden and silver (the celebration of a quasquicentennial) anniversary, we take a look a timeline of the dairy industry’s history, as chronicled in Dairy Foods. Please note this is a brief history and only represents some key moments during the past 125 years.
This will be followed by some classic photos from suppliers who have served the dairy industry. We hope you enjoy this retrospective.
1862
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the federal executive department responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development and food, was created. President Abraham Lincoln called the USDA the “People’s Department,” because half of all Americans lived on the farms. The USDA’s motto remains “Do Right and Feed Everyone.”
1899
Dairy Record begins publication as a weekly journal dedicated to cooperative dairying.
1900
Butter consumption peaks at 20 pounds per person annually.
1902
First automotive deliveries of ice cream.
1903
J.L. Kraft establishes a wholesale cheese business in Chicago.
1904
The ice cream cone appears at the St. Louis World’s Fair thanks to Ernest A. Hamwi, a concessionaire selling waffle-like treats.
1905
The National Dairy Association is chartered in Illinois.
1909
Tillamook County Creamery Association founded in Oregon.
1909
One of the biggest, most technically advanced ice cream plants of the era is built by the Crane Ice Cream Co., Philadelphia. It had a capacity of 6,000 gallons every 10 hours.
1910
Dr. Wilbur Wright developed the first sanitary, liquid-tight cardboard container.
1912
The National Milk Commission recommends all pasteurized milk be heated to 142 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes.
1913
Fred H. Wells purchased a horse, a delivery wagon, a few cans and jars, and the good will of the business from Ray Bowers, a dairy farmer in Le Mars, Iowa, all for $250.
1915
National Dairy Council was formed
1919
First factory-made yogurt at Knudsen Dairy, Los Angeles.
1920
The butter pecan ice cream flavor is debuted by The Hershey Co.
1921
Land O’ Lakes founded.
1924
The Pasteurized Milk Ordinance originated as the Standard Milk Ordinance.
1926
An experimental paper milk container machine was installed in the dairy department at The Ohio State University. It had a maximum speed of 10 containers per minute and three people were required to run it.
1927
Kraft introduces Velveeta processed cheese.
1928
Wisconsin hosts first dairy show in the United States.
1937
June is established as Dairy Month.
1937
The first diabetic ice cream is made using saccharin.
Federal Orders really started to take shape after language was included in the 1937 Agriculture Adjustment Act (Farm Bill).
1939
The Agricultural Marketing Service is created.
1940
The American Dairy Association is organized by producers in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas and Ohio.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was established as an agency independent of the USDA.
Wisconsin was officially named “America's Dairyland.” The slogan was added to Wisconsin license plates to promote the state's dairy industry.
1944
3-A Sanitary Standards Committee initiated.
1945
L.D. Schreiber Cheese Co. is founded in Green Bay, Wis.
1945
Irwin Robbins and Burton Baskin begin operating the Snowbird Ice Cream Store in Glendale, Calif., offering 21 flavors.
1948
Ultra-high temperature pasteurization debuts.
1952
Kraft introduces Cheese Whiz.
1952
Robert Beckwith invents the half-gallon, lock-in paperboard carton for ice cream.
1953
First color advertisement appears in the Dairy Record.
1960
Borden builds the world’s first full-scale, automated clean-in-place facility in Milwaukee.
1963
A patent for continuous cottage cheese manufacture is issued.
1964
Thirty cooperatives representing 35,000 dairy farmers merge into Associated Dairymen, a forerunner of Mid-America Dairymen and Dairy Farmers of America.
1966
General Mills introduces Cool Whip nondairy whipped topping.
1967
B.E. Budahn of Bongards Creameries patents the first automated machine for processing cheese curds from the make vats to hoops or barrels.
1970
Dairy Record becomes a monthly magazine.
1978
With a $12,000 investment, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield open a scoop shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vt.
1980
Dairy Record names its first Processor of the Year: Dean Foods.
1981
Stevia, a sugar substitute made from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant of South America, becomes a popular, zero calorie sweetener in the U.S.
1982
First aseptic packaged milk is produced in the United States.
1982
“Real California” cheese marketing program begins.
1984
Congress designates July as National Ice Cream Month.
1986
The Center for Dairy Research (CDR) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is established to support the dairy industry's success.
1986
Dairy Record changes its name to Dairy Foods.
1988
For the first time, combined sales of lowfat and skim milks outdistance those of whole milk.
1988
Five dairy research centers are established in California, Minnesota-South Dakota, Northeast, Southeast, and Western U.S.
1989
Phillip Morris Cos. combines Kraft and General Foods to create Kraft General Foods, the largest food company in the U.S.
1990
International Dairy Foods Association is founded.
1991
Unlike other plant milks having origins as early as the 13th century, oat milk was developed in the 1990s by the Swedish scientist Rickard Öste. Over 2017–2019, oat milk sales in the United States increased 10 fold.
1992
First year to exceed $500 million in global dairy exports.
1993
The California Milk Processor Board launches the first “Got Milk?” TV ad.
1994
Naomi Campbell appears in the first Milk Mustache ad.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico that eliminated most tariffs and trade barriers between the three countries, was established.
1995
US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) originated as a nonprofit, pro-trade membership organization with a long-range vision for a more global future. USDEC’s mission: “to enrich the well-being of people, communities and the planet.”
1996
Kraft’s Breakstone snack-sized cottage cheese, a four-pack of four-ounce cups, becomes the first of its kind in the cottage cheese category.
1997
The first Worldwide Food Expo is held;
Borden completes its exit from the dairy business, selling its cheese business to Mid-America Dairymen and its fluid milk operations to Mid-Am/Southern Foods.
1998
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is formed.
1998
Dairy Management Inc. and the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) launch a single, nationally integrated fluid milk marketing program, combining the Got Milk? slogan with the milk mustache visual image.
2003
First year to exceed $1 billion in global dairy exports.
2008
The FDA approved stevia extracts as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) for use as a food additive.
2010
The non-dairy milk trend began to gain momentum, though non-dairy milks have been around for centuries.
2011
Between 2011-2019, 11% of new cheese production was exported.
2014
In the last decade, U.S. milk production grew 10% but most of the growth emanated from a small number of areas.
2018
Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives, a SNAP program, were authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill.
2019
Twenty-four percent of new cheese production is exported.
2020s
Significant growth in protein-fortified foods.
2022
China is the No. 1 importer of milk to the tune of more than $6.1 billion dollars, the highest import value in the world.
2023
Nine in 10 consumers say sustainability is “very” or “somewhat important.” Additionally, 75% of millennial consumers consider sustainability when they make a purchase. Consumers trust farmers when it comes to understanding environmental issues.
2024
At the Global Dairy Summit in Madison, dairy experts suggest that the future of U.S. Dairy is in exports. New Zealand, the largest milk exporter in the world, has an export value of $6.8 billion in 2023-2024. The top milk exporting countries are New Zealand, Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
The U.S. Dairy Industry is bracing for change in the coming years with the rate of consolidation likely increasing for both farms and dairy plants.
Domestic demand trends are positive with solid growth prospects for butter, cheese and whole milk. Exports of cheese and whey products expected to have the highest growth potential.
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