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Success in dairy partnerships

Donahoe

A dairy checkoff board member says she’s seen the benefit of farmer dollars going from advertising into partnerships.

Audrey Donahoe, a dairy farmer from upstate New York, has served the last 14 years on the Dairy Management Incorporated board.  “We really didn’t know how much milk was being sold by just having advertising on T.V.”  She says, “Now partnering with companies that sell our product, we know how much more of our product can be sold.”

She tells Brownfield one of the most recent partnerships is with McDonald’s.  “McDonald’s has now changed all of their margin to butter.”  Donahoe says, “That’s huge for us!  That’s like 500 million pounds of milk equivalent to, that’s going to be out there more and sold more for us.”  She says McDonald’s has been a longtime partner of the dairy industry for almost a decade.  “They always come out with new ways to incorporate more dairy—the McCafés, the milkshakes with the new recipes.” Donahoe tells Brownfield, “Our domestic cheese sales have increased within the United States and we really like to think that’s because of our partnerships with a lot of these fast food chains.”

She says new research has also found milkfat to be healthy as part of a well-balanced diet.  “As a mom, when I go to the grocery store I want to know what I’m buying is healthy and it’s safe, and it’s nutritious for my children and my grandchildren for that matter.”  Donahoe says, “Now we have the science based proof that milkfat is good for you!  So, we’re going to be out there promoting that to moms that are in the grocery stores buying it.”

Donahoe tells Brownfield the checkoff is also working on ways to improve fluid milk innovation, saying new products like FairLife will help revitalize a declining market.

AUDIO: Interview with Audrey Donahoe

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