Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 29, 2025
Tennessee Schools Launch Innovative Cold Milk Dispensers for Students
TLDR
- The Dairy Alliance's Udderly Cold Portable Milk Dispenser gives schools an advantage by reducing waste and serving perfectly portioned milk at optimal freshness.
- The Udderly Cold system maintains milk at 35 degrees, holds 25 gallons with triple capacity capability, and dispenses up to 400 eight-ounce servings before rotation.
- This innovation improves student nutrition by encouraging milk consumption, supporting lifelong healthy habits, and making schools better places for children's wellness.
- Students pour their own ice-cold milk from a portable dispenser that can serve up to 400 cups before needing a refill.
Impact - Why it Matters
This initiative addresses critical childhood nutrition needs by making milk more appealing and accessible to students during their formative years. Proper calcium intake during childhood and adolescence is essential for building strong bones and preventing osteoporosis later in life. The program also reduces food waste in school cafeterias while supporting local dairy farmers, creating a sustainable model that benefits both student health and agricultural communities. As childhood nutrition continues to be a public health concern, innovative approaches like this demonstrate how simple technological improvements can significantly impact consumption of essential nutrients while teaching healthy habits that can last a lifetime.
Summary
The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit organization funded by dairy farm families across the Southeast, has partnered with Kingsport City School District in Sullivan County, Tennessee, to launch an innovative school nutrition initiative featuring the Udderly Cold Portable Milk Dispenser. This groundbreaking system, specifically designed for K-12 educational environments, represents a significant advancement in how students access and consume dairy products during school meals. The official ribbon cutting ceremony at John Sevier Middle School brought together key stakeholders including Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, a 10th-generation dairy farmer, who emphasized how these dispensers maintain milk freshness while reducing waste. The event showcased student enthusiasm as they engaged with the new technology and learned about dairy nutrition from school and community leaders.
The Udderly Cold Portable Milk Dispenser system maintains milk at a consistent 35 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly enhancing flavor quality and encouraging increased consumption among students. With its innovative design capable of holding up to 25 gallons of bulk milk bags and expandable to triple capacity through multiple connected bags, the system can dispense approximately 400 perfectly portioned 8-ounce servings before requiring product rotation. Funded through an Endowment Grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, this initiative has already expanded beyond Kingsport to include Hardin County Schools in Savannah, Tennessee, where Northside Elementary School has implemented similar technology. The program demonstrates how strategic partnerships between agricultural organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies can create meaningful improvements in student nutrition and wellness.
According to Jennifer Walker, RD, Kingsport City School Nutrition Director, milk remains the primary source of calcium for children and teenagers, making increased access particularly crucial during critical bone development years. Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance, highlighted how this innovative delivery system helps schools incorporate nutritious dairy into daily meals while fostering lifelong healthy habits among students. Dr. R. Andrew True, Assistant Superintendent of Kingsport City School District, expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort that brought this technology to their schools, noting how innovation directly impacts student health and wellbeing. The program represents a comprehensive approach to addressing childhood nutrition challenges while supporting local dairy farmers and promoting sustainable food systems within educational environments.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Tennessee Schools Launch Innovative Cold Milk Dispensers for Students
