THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS

September 2009
DAIRY CHECKOFF UPDATE                                                            View PDF

Dairy Producers Help Grow Sales with New Yogurt Smoothie Product

Dairy producers, through their dairy checkoff investment, in partnership with General Mills, owner of the Yoplait® brand, developed a new line of frozen fruit and yogurt smoothies, Yoplait® Yogurt Chips. The chips use a breakthrough technology to develop a yogurt product that is blended with fruit and eight ounces of fluid milk.

The smoothies were developed to help meet consumer needs for nutritious and convenient dairy products that also taste good. The smoothies, which can be found in the frozen fruit section in grocery stores nationwide, are available in three flavors — Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Mango Pineapple and Triple Berry.

“Sales of yogurt and smoothie products have been a shining star for the dairy category in recent years,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy checkoff. “Checkoff-funded dairy ingredient marketing efforts work with key food and beverage manufacturers to assist in the development of new products that drive volume by highlighting the nutrition, functionality, versatility and good taste of dairy ingredients.”

General Mills, in collaboration with national and local dairy promotion organizations, is rolling out the frozen fruit and yogurt smoothie products in grocery stores across the nation this fall. The launch also will include in-store sampling events to boost sales. Consumer research indicates that, once consumers tried the smoothies, they became regular customers. The smoothies will result in an estimated 120 million pounds of additional milk volume used each year.

For more information about dairy ingredient marketing efforts and other dairy checkoff partnerships, visit www.dairycheckoff.com.

National Dairy Shrine/DMI Announce 2009 Scholarship Winners

Dairy Management Inc.™(DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff program, and the National Dairy Shrine partner each year to award scholarships to encourage college students to pursue careers in dairy product marketing. Londa Johnson of LaCrescent, Minn., received $1,500 as the recipient of the 2009 National Dairy Shrine/DMI Milk Marketing Scholarship. Johnson is a dairy science major with a minor in business and professional communication at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls.

In addition, six other students received $1,000 scholarships. They include:

  • Jessica Achen of Sauk Centre, Minn., who attends the University of Minnesota
  • Stephanie Beeman of Carlisle, Pa., who attends Penn State University
  • Skylar Ryll of Royalston, Mass., who attends Cornell University
  • Charlie Schiller of Freeport, Minn., who attends the University of Minnesota
  • Brandon Thesing of Winona, Minn., who attends the University of Minnesota
  • Abby Udermann of Sartell, Minn., who attends the University of Minnesota

The scholarships will be presented Oct. 1 at the National Dairy Shrine awards banquet at the 2009 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.