Talk Dairy to Me

July is recognized as National Ice Cream month, so we are focusing this episode on all things ice cream.  Learn about new trends and changes to the ice cream aisle and find out how our newest regional brands of ice cream are working hard to bring consumers all the tasty treats they desire.

Grab a bowl of your favorite ice cream and enjoy the latest episode of Talk Dairy to Me!

DFA’s 2021 CoLAB Accelerator program may have officially concluded last week, but we want to continue to help you get to know the innovative companies that participated in the program. Many of these startups are still getting up and running — and all have exciting futures ahead.

For this month’s episode of Talk Dairy to Me, our podcast about all things innovation, our host Doug Dresslaer, director of cultural innovation, talked dairy with the founders of three of the seven companies that participated in this year’s program.

Tune in to hear from the founders of CattleEye, which provides hardware-free technology for monitoring cows; SimpliFed, a company working to create an organic formula to bridge the gap between breast milk and conventional formula; and Cheeseboard Snacking Bar™, a single-serve cheese snacking bar that provides healthy and satiable fuel between meals.

DFA’s 2021 CoLAB Accelerator program may have officially concluded last week, but we want to continue to help you get to know the innovative companies that participated in the program. Many of these startups are still getting up and running — and all have exciting futures ahead.

For this month’s episode of Talk Dairy to Me, our podcast about all things innovation, our host Doug Dresslaer, director of cultural innovation, talked dairy with the founders of three of the seven companies that participated in this year’s program.

Tune in to hear from the founders of CattleEye, which provides hardware-free technology for monitoring cows; SimpliFed, a company working to create an organic formula to bridge the gap between breast milk and conventional formula; and Cheeseboard Snacking Bar™, a single-serve cheese snacking bar that provides healthy and satiable fuel between meals.

LEADING THE WAY WITH OUR PLANET, OUR PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITIES

From protecting the environment, to investing in our employees and family farm-owners, to giving back to all the communities we touch, DFA takes our social responsibility to our planet, our people and our communities seriously. Our recently released 2021 Social Responsibility Report focuses on the progress made in these areas in 2020 — despite all the challenges of an unprecedented year — and sets the path for 2021.

If you haven’t had a chance to read the report — all 56 pages of it — you’re in luck.

Earlier this month, DFA kicked off its 5th accelerator welcoming seven great companies to the program.  On this month's episode, our host Doug Dresslaer explores why DFA started the program, successes we've achieved by having the program and gets updates from companies who have been in previous cohorts.

On this month’s episode of Talk Dairy to Me, DFA’s podcast about all things innovation, we’re talking about National Nutrition Month and highlighting the importance of dairy in a healthy diet.

From protein powders to sports drinks, innovations in how we process products, and the ingredients used, are expanding consumers’ choices for healthy (and trendy) eating through all the possibilities of dairy.

Our host, Doug Dresslaer, talks dairy with Jeff Clark, director of strategy management for our Ingredient Solutions Division, and Andrew Rice, product optimization director for Ingredient Solutions, about how protein powders are no longer that chalky, unappealing powder you might think of and how DFA’s plants process high-quality protein powders. Finally, he chats with Michelle McBride, founder and CEO of GoodSport™, an alum of DFA’s CoLAB Accelerator program who developed a sports drink made from the elements of milk to create a super-hydrating and delicious beverage for athletes and all active individuals.

On this month’s episode of Talk Dairy to Me, DFA’s podcast about all things innovation, we’re highlighting DFA’s inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council and the work the council has done since it was formed last summer to foster a culture of openness and inclusion across the Cooperative.

Our host, Doug Dresslaer, director of cultural innovation, talks with Marjie Knust, senior director of communications, about why the council was formed. He also chats with two members of the council, JeVel Lindon, human resources generalist out of our headquarters in Kansas City, Kan., and Philip Salazar, regional continuous improvement manager for the south region of DFA’s Ingredient Solutions team based in Portales, New Mexico, about why they wanted to participate on the council.

You’ll get an update on the work that has taken place since the council was formed, the guiding principles the council has set to help lead them and how you can take part.

NOGS, FLAVORED MILK, DRINKABLE YOGURTS, OH MY!

On this month’s episode of Talk Dairy to Me, DFA’s podcast about all things innovation, we’re featuring the delectable drinks that hit the dairy case in 2020 — thanks to the innovation happening at DFA.

Our host, Doug Dresslaer, director of cultural innovation, talks dairy with the talented teams in our Dairy Brands Division that took products from ideas to grocery store aisles last year. The Dairy Brands Division nourishes consumers through our family of brands with delicious cheese, butter, fluid milk, ice cream, cultured dairy products and more.

We don’t want to give too much away … but get ready. There’s Fireball®, pumpkin spice and, of course, there’s milk. Feeling parched? Grab a glass and listen today.

This month, we want to focus on a new innovative program from our Farm Services team. Feed is the number one expense for our dairy farmer-members and so the Farm Services team created the Feed First program to bring awareness to the suite of services we have available to help our farmer-members optimize their feed purchasing.

Join host Doug Dresslaer as he explores this new program with members of the Farm Services Team.

As we all start looking ahead to 2021, there’s no better time to reflect on where we’ve been — and that’s exactly what’s happening on this month’s episode of Talk Dairy to Me, DFA’s podcast about all things innovation.

While we review applications of companies wanting to participate in DFA’s 2021 CoLAB Accelerator, a 90-day immersive program to grow ag-tech and dairy food product startups, we’re taking it back to the past. On this month’s episode, we’re chatting with three former CoLAB Accelerator participants — My Dairy Dashboard (https://app.mydairydashboard.com/), AgVoice (https://www.agvoiceglobal.com/) and Pharm Robotics (http://www.pharmrobotics.net/) — about where they are now and how their companies have grown since they participated in our program.

There are some exciting announcements, surprising news and a few quips along the way, so be sure to tune in.