11/13/08 Innovation, leadership, results

The folks managing the national dairy checkoff are telling producers the opportunity to meet unmet consumer demand is as strong as ever. That's what Dairy Management Inc's CEO tom Gallagher said recently to one thousand producers and industry representatives at a national meeting. GALLAGHER "While there are some fundamental problems with the economy obviously it hasn't change the fact that there are billions and billions of pounds of demand in the world for dairy product that aren't being satisfied." One key example for future opportunity is obviously the younger crowd. GALLAGHER "Kids are so important to the dairy industry because they represent not only a lot of current consumption; they represent all of the future consumption. So, we have a unique opportunity because we're in schools every day where there's 55 million children, we're on the line." Gallagher says for every dollar the dairy checkoff invests dairy producers get more than a five dollar return. Arizona dairyman and DMI chairman Paul Rovey says the checkoff has partnered with McDonalds to introduce new espresso drinks that some may think of as coffee. ROVEY "But, it's a milk drink. It's 80 percent milk with a coffee flavoring. It's a brand new area, a new opportunity for us." The new espresso drinks will roll out at 14 thousand McDonald's locations next year and that could mean a lot of milk consumed. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott