This is the california love
that comes from our farms families, the people who are committed to doing the right things, from big to little.
All of the ways we do our part to ensure a better world for generations to come.
Listen to how cows, plants, and the environment have a symbiotic relationship, as explained by UC Davis professor Dr. Frank Mitloehner on the Dairy Defined Podcast.
Cows and Climate 101. UC Davis researcher Dr. Frank Mitloehner discusses how U.S. dairy farms have cut the carbon footprint of a glass of milk by two thirds since 1950, leading toward a greener future.
This CA dairy family has some unlikely neighbors! When the imperiled tricolored blackbirds began nesting at Diamond J Dairy, the Jonkmans delayed harvest to protect these birds. Get a birds-eye view of this family's success story and their commitment to farming sustainably.
CA dairy farmer Philip Verwey is determined to help improve air quality. And it’s working. By converting from diesel to electric, he’s managed to cut his dairy’s tractor-related emissions substantially. As a result of this game-changing idea, he’s been given the Innovation Center for US Dairy’s “Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability” award.
California dairy families continue to partner with local utilities to conserve energy and ensure a greener future. In fact, they have already saved over 55 million kilowatt-hours of energy, enough to supply electricity to more than 5,000 homes for a year.
More than 100 California dairy farms have installed solar energy systems, including Joseph Gallo Farms, which has the largest privately-owned system on a California dairy. "Sustainable farming has been a core value in our family starting with my grandfather," says third generation dairy farmer Peter Gallo.
California dairy families are turning to conservation and clean-energy to help reduce dependency on fossil fuels — and improving quality of life for all of us.
Cow power? It’s a thing. California dairy farms are reimagining renewable energy for a cleaner, more sustainable future.
California leads the world in reducing dairy methane emissions. The state will soon have a total of 80 digesters, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13 million tons in just their first 10 years of operation.
On California's dairy farms, every drop of water is used to its maximum benefit. Clean water cools milk and washes cows before being collected to flush manure from barn floors. And that’s not all! The water is then used to irrigate feed crops like corn and alfalfa. Nothing goes to waste.
The young women holding court in the Golden State.
Each year, California’s dairy districts select a special group of young women to represent the California dairy industry and champion the great dairy families from their communities.
2019 Princesses
Megan Dixon
District 1 Dairy Princess
Brianna Rimmey
District 1 First Alternate
Cadence Lommori
District 1 Second Alternate
Olivia Poncia
District 3 Dairy Princess
Courtney Temple
District 3 First Alternate
Rachel Spaletta
District 3 Second Alternate
Madalyn (Maddy) Nissen
District 4 Dairy Princess
Madeline Evans
District 4 First Alternate
Amelia Navarez
District 5 Dairy Princess
Alyce Silva
District 6 Dairy Princess
Paige Brigham
District 6 First Alternate
Jenna Searcy
District 7 Dairy Princess
Shae Greidanus
District 9 Dairy Princess
Anissa Borges
District 9 Alternate
Hayli Atkins
District 9 Alternate
The programs and initiatives nearest and dearest to our hearts.
Ready to Improve YOUR School?
Fuel Up to Play 60, the leading in-school health and wellness program empowers students and educators to work together to build healthier schools and create healthy, high-achieving students. The program offers a variety of opportunities for adults, students and schools; from in-school wellness initiatives to funding opportunities, there is something for everyone!
Check out the new FUTP 60 Virtual Homeroom.
Food for Thought
More than 4.2 million people in California face hunger, and that number is rising. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased need for food assistance in communities across the country. California dairy farmers and fluid milk processors are partnering with Feeding America® to help provide 1 million meals1 and 1 million servings of milk2 through #FoodForThought, a campaign recognizing the myriad acts of kindness displayed by individuals and groups committed to serving communities – from preparing meals for families to surprising and delighting friends with milk and cookie drops, and much more.
Starting August 25, with a donation of 1 million servings of milk from California dairy farm families, each #FoodForThought mission of kindness post shared and engaged with on Instagram that mentions @gotmilk through September 30 will help contribute meals toward the accompanying 1-million-meals goal from the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), creators of got milk? and toma leche.
[1] Every dollar donated to Feeding America® secures the equivalent of at least 10 meals on
behalf of their network of local member feeding programs, including nutritious foods like
milk. From August 24, 2020 through September 30, 2020 each engagement received on a
#FoodForThought post generates a $1 Feeding America donation from the California Milk
Processor Board, with a guaranteed minimum commitment of $25,000 and a maximum commitment of
$100,000 for a goal of 1 million meals.
[2] Feeding America considers the value of a gallon of
milk to be $4. A $300,000 donation by California dairy families will secure 75k gallons of
milk. With 16 1-cup servings of milk per gallon, that will equal 1.2 million servings of
milk.
