Formed in 1969, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) promotes products made with Real California Milk. It operates under the principle that wholesome, quality dairy products are just as important for consumers as they are for milk producers. Because our dairy products contribute to the good health and well-being of all, we actively market them through promotion, education and research.

Promotion: The CMAB vigorously promotes California dairy products using an integrated mix of media that includes print, radio, television, outdoor, in-store promotions and publicity.

Education: The CMAB educates the public about the importance of dairy products to overall health with pamphlets, brochures, recipes and other materials.

Research: The CMAB conducts consumer and industry research to stay abreast of issues, trends and opportunities that our dairy producers can respond to..

Staff

CMAB staff members have backgrounds in a variety of specialties including advertising, in-store merchandising, retail management, public information, PR and home economics. The staff is assisted by outside promotional agencies as well as the California Dairy Foods Research Center, private food laboratories and major universities.

Funding & Oversight

The CMAB is funded by dairy families through a special assessment based on milk production. Its programs and administration are supervised by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

The Board

The CMAB's activities are governed by a board of directors comprised of 24 dairy farmers. Dairy farmers are nominated by their home districts (10 throughout the state) and are confirmed by the State Secretary of Food and Agriculture. A local advisory committee is also elected in each of the 10 home districts.

Click here to download upcoming meeting agendas.

An instrumentality of the Department of Food and Agriculture, State of California.

THE REAL CALIFORNIA MILK SEAL

The Real California Milk seal was introduced in 2007 as part of a new strategic promotion initiative for the California dairy industry. The seal was created with industry input by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), which also created the very successful Real California Cheese seal in 1984.

The Real California Milk seal certifies that milk is from California dairy farms and that dairy products bearing the seal are made exclusively with California milk. Nationwide the seal promotes the full range of dairy products made with California milk, including butter, ice cream and yogurt. In California, the seal also is used on fluid milk.

The seal reflects CMAB research confirming that dairy products like fluid milk, butter and ice cream are more appealing to consumers when made with California milk. It also enables the California dairy industry to more effectively promote a broad range of dairy products both within the state, across the country and worldwide.

June 2009