California Ag Network

Tag: California Milk Advisory Board

  • California Milk Advisory Board’s Elects 2020 Executive Committee

    The California Milk Advisory Board is proud to share its newly elected 2020 Executive Committee officers including: Vice Chairman Tony Louters of Merced, Chairman Josh Zonneveld of Laton, Treasurer David Vander Schaaf of Stockton, Member-at-Large Essie Bootsma of Lakeview, Secretary Megan Silva of Escalon, Member-at-Large Kirsten Areias of Los Banos, and Member-at-Large Renae DeJager of Chowchilla.

    David Vander Schaaf

    David Vander Schaaf is a fourth-generation dairy farmer at Vander Schaaf Dairy, which was established in 1929. David joined the family business in partnership with brothers Joey and James, as well as father John Vander Schaaf in 2013. He is a member of the Milk Producers Council.

    Kirsten Areias

    Kirsten Areias has been a dairy producer since 1980 and currently milks 320 Holsteins with husband Dennis at the 360-acre Den-K Holsteins, Inc. She is a member of a variety of industry groups, including Western United Dairies, serves as an advisor for the California Holstein Association and Merced County Junior Holstein Association, and is a Dairy Bowl Coach.

    Renae DeJager

    Renae DeJager and husband Art are owners of 1500-acre Vista Verde Dairy, which was established in 1977 and where they currently milk 3,200 Holsteins. She is an active member of her community and serves a variety of community groups including California Women for AG, Stone Ridge Christian School Board and Cornerstone Community Church in Chowchilla. She previously served on the board for the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board where she traveled extensively to promote dairy in domestic and international markets.

    Essie Bootsma

    Essie Bootsma milks 2,000 Holsteins with her son Jason at the John Bootsma Dairy that she started with her husband, John, in 1979. She is a member of a variety of community groups, including the Western Riverside Ag Coalition, where she serves as secretary, the Eastern Municipal Water District Advisory Committee and the Eastern Municipal Dairy Water Supply, where she serves as chair. She previously served as Secretary to the CMAB’s Executive Committee. In her free time, Essie enjoys representing CMAB in promotional trade shows, spending time with her five grandchildren and cooking for and entertaining family and friends.

    Josh Zonneveld

    Josh Zonneveld and his wife Cassie along with other family members currently milk 8,500 Holsteins at the 7,000-acre Zonneveld Dairies that his grandfather founded in 1968. He joined the family business in 2005. He is a member of the Ag Executive Council for Land O’ Lakes and also serves on the board for the California Dairy Research Foundation.

    Megan Silva

    Megan Silva graduated from Cal Poly in 2006 and is a 4th generation dairy farmer. Megan and husband Johnny Silva, along with her father Frank Rocha, currently milk 2100 Holsteins at the 900-acre Frank N. Rocha Dairy L.P., where she has worked since 2006. Megan and Johnny started their own dairy, R & S Dairy LLC. in May of last year. She is also extremely passionate about the fitness and wellness industries, and shares these passions through her two businesses in Escalon; EscalonFIT and Wellness by EscalonFIT.

    Tony Louters

    Tony Louters and his wife Corinna own T & C Louters Dairy in Merced where they currently milk 600 Holsteins. They have been in business since 2003 and have four children: Alexis, Bryce, Tyler and Breann. Tony is a member of Western United Dairies.

  • California Dairy Districts Seek Ambassadors to Serve as 2020 Dairy Princesses

    Each year, a special group of young women are selected to represent the state’s dairy farm families who contribute to making California number one for milk production in the U.S. These Dairy Princess ambassadors and alternates are selected during events at Districts throughout the state, where they showcase speaking skills, knowledge of dairy and plans to represent the industry during the one-year term. The 2020 contests kick off in April and will run through June.

    California Dairy Princesses serve as industry advocates in their home district and throughout California, supporting the reputation of milk and dairy products through appearances at industry and agricultural functions, with school groups and in media interviews. Dairy Princesses and alternates participate in a mandatory orientation/training where they receive professional development coaching.

    The California Dairy Princess Program has been in effect since 1958. Currently eight districts hold local contests, which cover 48 counties in the state of California. The California Dairy Princess contest is supported by California dairy producers through the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB).  More information and application forms can be accessed HERE.  Additional questions can be directed to Tiffany Nielsen, California Dairy Princess Director at dairyprincess@cmab.net or (559) 280.9859.

    Dairy Princess Program – 2020 Application Deadlines and Contest Dates

    District                        Application Deadline               Contest Date                   Location

    District 1                      Friday, March 20                        Friday, May 8                  Fortuna

    District 3                      Monday, February 24                 Saturday, April 11            Petaluma

    District 4                      Friday, May 1                             TBD                                  TBD

    District 5                      Thursday, April 16                     Wednesday, June 3           Manteca

    District 6                      Friday, May 8                             Thursday, June 18            Turlock

    District 7                      Monday, April 20                       Saturday, June 6               Hanford

    District 8                      Thursday, March 5                     Thursday, April 16           Fresno

    District 9                      Thursday, April 23                     Friday, June 19                 Tulare

     

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. Dairy products made with Real California Milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies that the products are made with milk produced on California’smore than 1200 family dairy farms.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairyfarm families and is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB is celebrating 50 years of promoting California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagramand Pinterest.

     

  • Bears Nutrition Awards $250,000 to Inaugural Real California Milk Accelerator Winner

    Tracy, Calif. – November 8, 2019 – Bears Nutrition and its innovative, milk-based nutritional shakes for children was named the grand prize winner today of the Real California Milk Accelerator dairy startup competition. The competition, sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) and powered by leading innovation consultancy VentureFuel, Inc., will provide Bears Nutrition with $250,000 in resources and funding to bring their fortified milk beverages to market.

    As presented by co-founders David Sheu and Kevin Yeung, Bears Nutrition focuses on helping active kids grow. The winning product is a daily milk-based beverage fortified with protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega 3’s designed specifically for children aged three and older. It was created when Yeung’s son, Bear, stopped growing when his hockey performance started to take off. When a clinical nutritionist prescribed milk, and “lots of it”, with some added nutrients, Bears Nutrition’s shakes were born. The products currently have limited distribution in Europe and China but the founders look forward to expanding throughout the U.S. with Real California Milk at the core.

    “Our mission at Bears is to help kids reach their full growth potential and we believe milk is a cornerstone to achieve that mission,” said David Sheu, CEO and co-Founder of Bears Nutrition. “With the help of the CMAB, we look forward to making milk a staple in kids’ routines again.”

    The Milk Accelerator competition was designed to inspire innovation and investment in fluid milk products, packaging and capacity within California by connecting manufacturers, producers, investors, ideas and entrepreneurs for high quality, sustainable dairy beverages. Alongside eight other finalists, Bears Nutrition was judged on taste, nutritional value, packaging innovation, sustainability, and the ability to scale by a live panel of judges from the dairy, consumer packaged goods, and investor communities including business, industry and academic influencers. Bears Nutrition was one of nine finalists that each received up to $25,000 of support to develop protocepts while receiving elite mentorship from marketing, packaging, and distribution experts.

    “The innovation we’ve seen from these nine incredible finalists has shown that we’ve barely tapped the natural goodness of dairy milk and what can be done to create products relevant to consumers today,” said John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB. “Not only are we excited to provide consumers with a healthy, great-tasting new beverage option by helping to bring Bears Nutrition shakes to market, but we also look forward to seeing what the other finalists are able to achieve with the support they’ve received through this program.”

    “This collaboration between VentureFuel and the CMAB is a great demonstration of the heights that are possible when influential organizations in major industries collaborate with startups; we can accelerate growth and jump-start innovation in new ways that can not only influence consumer perception, but help redefine an industry,” said Fred Schoenberg, CEO and Founder of VentureFuel.

    More than 1,200 family dairy farms produce the milk found in fluid milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream and other dairy products identified by the Real California Milk seal – which will soon include Bears Nutrition beverages. California is the number one producer of fluid milk, butter and ice cream in the U.S. and the second largest producer of cheese and yogurt.

    Additional information on the winner and competition finalists is available at: https://www.venturefuel.net/milk-accelerator.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families and is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB is celebrating 50 years in 2019 promoting California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

    About VentureFuel, Inc.

    VentureFuel helps established companies around the world unlock growth by partnering with emerging startups and breakthrough technologies. Our innovation programs solve specific challenges, deliver tangible results and discover first-to-market opportunities from the Museum of Ice Cream to the latest pioneering technologies. We are 100 percent independent, sourcing from our global network of the best investors, scouts, founders and academics. Learn more at: www.venturefuel.net.

  • California Milk Advisory Board 2019 Executive Committee Officers

    TRACY, Calif.— May 21, 2019 — Newly elected 2019 officers of the California Milk Advisory Board Executive Committee are (top row, left to right): Treasurer David Vander Schaaf of Stockton, Member-at-Large Renae DeJager of Chowchilla. Shown in the bottom row (left to right): Member-at-Large Megan Silva of Escalon, Chairman Josh Zonneveld of Laton, Secretary Essie Bootsma of Lakeview, Member-at-Large Kirsten Areias of Los Banos. Vice Chairman, Tony Louters of Merced, not shown.

    For further information, please contact Jennifer Giambroni, Director of Communications
    (209) 690-8244, jgiambroni@cmab.net.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Departmentof Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s more than 1,300 dairy families and is one of thelargest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB is celebrating 50 years in 2019 promoting California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

    Real California Milk Logo

     

     

  • California Milk Advisory Board Promotes Dairy through Food Service Industry

    The California Milk Advisory Board does a lot to promote California dairy consumption, not only through consumer marketing, but also through the food service industry.  Watch this brief interview with Jennifer Giambroni as she shares their latest efforts and successes with the food service industry, and read more about it in California Dairy Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine?  Subscribe for FREE at: https://malcolmmedia.com/california-dairy-magazine-subscriptions/

  • Global Dairy Market Update from California Milk Advisory Board

    While California dairy producers have been experiencing continued lower prices for their product, there are some positive global trends dairy producers can look forward to as reported by John Talbot, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board in a recent interview with California Ag Network. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in California Dairy Magazine. Don’t currently receive the magazine? Subscribe for FREE at: https://malcolmmedia.com/california-dairy-magazine-subscriptions/

  • CA Milk Advisory Board Announces New Dairy Princess Representatives

    Young Dairy Leaders to Serve as Advocates on Behalf of Dairy Industry

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) recently welcomed the 2018-2019 class of Dairy Princess representatives for a three-day session to launch their year of service as California dairy industry advocates. Nineteen Dairy Princesses and Alternates from Districts 1 to 9 attended the Dairy Princess Training in July where they learned presentation and public speaking skills, etiquette and social media tips and an overview of industry programs and issues.

    The 2018-2019 California Dairy Princess Class includes:

    District                                   Contest Results                                ________________

    District 1                                 Dairy Princess Madeline Holmes, Ferndale

    First Alternate Austynn Gallagher, Eureka

    Second Alternate Dairy Princess Annabelle Raven, Fortuna

    District 3                                 Dairy Princess Jeanette Furlong, Petaluma

    First Alternate Dairy Princess Megan Binford, Novato

    Second Alternate Dairy Princess Sarah Kiser, Sonoma

    District 4                                 Dairy Princess Grazia Machado, Orland

    First Alternate Dairy Princess Hannah Gonzalez, Hamilton City

    Second Alternate Dairy Princess Tessa Flournoy, Orland

    District 5                                 Dairy Princess Emily Bavaro, Escalon

    District 6                                 Dairy Princess Sophia Vander Dussen, El Nido

    First Alternate Dairy Princess Caroline Lee, Modesto

    District 7                                 Dairy Princess Jolene Simas, Hanford

    First Alternate Dairy Princess Kiera Searcy, Hanford

    District 8                                 Dairy Princess Monserrat Vazquez, Riverdale

    First Alternate Dairy Princess Elizabeth Martin, Fresno

    District 9                                 Dairy Princess Kaylee Faria, Visalia

    First Alternate Dairy Princess Lindsay Mendonca, Tulare

    Second Alternate Dairy Princess Jenna Koetsier, Tulare

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream, and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. Dairy products made with Real California Milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies that the products are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms by California dairy farm families.

    About the California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s more than 1300 dairy families and is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB promotes California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • Dairy Students Selected for California Milk Advisory Board Internship Program

    Fourth generation dairy producer Tony Lopes of Gustine and third generation producer Jeremiah Tiemersma of Visalia have been selected to serve as international interns in a new program from the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), the promotional arm of the state’s dairy farmers.

    The interns, selected from students enrolled in agriculture-related programs at colleges and universities throughout the state, were chosen based on academic achievement, their connection to the industry and a willingness to travel abroad and learn more about international dairy sales and marketing as well as a plan to work in the California dairy industry in the future.

    Over the six-week period, each intern will spend time with in-country CMAB marketing organizations – Lopes in South Korea and Tiemersma in China – to gain a better understanding of these markets, consumer buying habits and promotional efforts on behalf of California’s dairy industry.

    “California currently accounts for around 33 percent of all U.S. dairy exports so international trade is essential for our continued growth. Over the last decade, the CMAB has worked closely with partners in Asia and Mexico to develop markets for California dairy products. This program is focused on providing insight into international dairy marketing for future leaders like Tony and Jeremiah who will work in the dairy business and one day serve on dairy industry boards and lead industry groups,” said Glenn Millar, Director of International Business Development for the CMAB.

    Tony Lopes

    Lopes, 22, recently received a B.S. in Dairy Science from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo where he served on the board of Associated Students, as president of the Los Lecheros Dairy Club and as a Cal Poly Agriculture Ambassador. He also served in leadership positions with the California FFA Association and California Junior Holstein Association. Upon completion of the internship program, he will rejoin the family dairy operation as Operations Team Leader and Manager of Strategic Development.

    Tiemersma, also 22, received a B.S. in Agricultural Business from California State University, Fresno and is working on a master’s in International Agriculture. He served as an Agriculture Ambassador at CSU, Fresno’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and in a leadership position with the Agricultural Business Club. When he returns from the internships program, he plans to complete his masters’ studies and pursue a career in the import and exporting of agricultural products.

    Jeremiah Tiemersma

    The CMAB International Internship program’s goal is to provide young agriculture/dairy college students an opportunity to learn about dairy foods and marketing in the international marketplace with a focus on developing leaders who will serve on dairy industry boards, work in dairy foods processing or sales/marketing. The internship is open to college students who are enrolled in a California college or university agriculture/dairy program and have strong ties to the California dairy industry, a willingness to travel abroad and learn about the international dairy industry.

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. Dairy products made with Real California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms.

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    About the California Milk Advisory Board
    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s more than 1300 dairy families and is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. With a mission to increase demand for products made with Real California Milk, the CMAB promotes California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visitRealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • “California Dairy Stories” videos further connect consumers with family farmers behind the Real California Milk Seal

    Tracy, Calif., (August 25, 2017) – Family, hard work and responsibility are all key themes that come through in “California Dairy Stories”, a new social media series launched today by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). The series, which captures short day-in-the-life moments from real California dairy families, was created to continue to connect consumers with the real people behind the Real California Milk seal.

    Like life, it’s not all work and no play for the 1300 dairy families who farm in California. From tractor pulls to stroopwafels, the series of 12 short videos tell very personal stories of the families who farm in California and look to pass this tradition to the next generation.

    Each moment demonstrates the variety of the dairy industry in California, which spans the state and is responsible for over 40 billion pounds of milk each year. For Tony Louters of Merced, who stepped away from a planned career as a CPA, going into farming means being able to spend time with his family, including daughter Alexis who is applying the values of hard work she learned on the farm to her studies as a speech therapist. Fourth-generation producer, Megan Silva, uses her early morning run to help prepare for the challenges of three business, 12 barns and three kids. And David Jones uses his lens as an amateur photographer to tell the story of California agriculture.

    “Real California Milk is about real food from real people. These short slices of California dairy life not only help consumers connect with the California dairy families who put the food on their tables but also create a better understanding of how we share the same values and experiences,” said Michael Freeman, VP of advertising for CMAB. “We pass on family traditions, we squeeze fitness into our busy lives and our kids often aspire to go into the family business. For farm families, though, that family business is nourishing the world.”

    The multigenerational story of family dairy farming in California is evident in each video vignette. From sharing traditional recipes to teaching the tools to become successful in farming, what comes through is the love of family, love of community and the gratitude for being in an industry that allows them to share the fruits of their labor with the world while continuously working to preserve the tradition of farming for the next generation.

    As B. Van Beek of Dairyland Farms in Tipton, Calif. says, “We don’t inherit the land from our parents, we borrow it from our grandkids.”

    “California Dairy Stories” joins the “Growing Up Dairy” social media series that debuted last year and depicts dairy kids sharing the love they have for raising livestock and helping on the farm. All videos can be viewed at RealCaliforniaMilk.com or on YouTube @realcaliforniamilk. They will be shared out through the Real California Milk Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels.

    Dairy products made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy
    farms. California produces more fluid milk, butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt.

    Courtesy – California Milk Advisory Board