Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
January 14, 2026
Virginia Schools Get $155K Boost for Sustainable Milk Dispenser Program
TLDR
- The Dairy Alliance's $155,000 grant program gives schools a competitive edge by reducing waste up to 90% and boosting milk consumption over 50% with modern dispensers.
- The Dairy Alliance, VSDA, and Farm Credit administer $155,000 in grants for milk dispenser equipment and kits, with VSDA handling distribution and technical support for schools.
- This partnership reduces cafeteria waste and increases students' dairy intake, building healthier habits and supporting local dairy farmers for a more sustainable future.
- Early-adopting schools saw milk packaging waste drop nearly 90% while consumption climbed over 50%, showing how simple equipment changes create big impacts.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it addresses multiple critical issues simultaneously: childhood nutrition, environmental sustainability, and support for local agriculture. With nearly three-quarters of children not meeting daily dairy recommendations, this program directly tackles a public health concern by making nutritious milk more accessible and appealing in schools. The environmental impact is substantial, with early adopters reducing milk packaging waste by nearly 90%, contributing to waste reduction goals in school cafeterias. For dairy farmers, particularly in Virginia's rural communities, this represents important market support and connection to local schools. The program's measurable success—with participating schools seeing at least 14% increases in milk consumption—demonstrates that practical solutions can effectively address complex challenges. As schools nationwide seek ways to improve nutrition while reducing environmental impact, this Virginia initiative serves as a model for how targeted funding and partnerships can create sustainable change that benefits students, schools, and agricultural communities.
Summary
The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, has announced a significant partnership with the Virginia State Dairymen's Association (VSDA) and Farm Credit of the Virginias to expand the Milk Dispenser (MD) Grant Program for K–12 schools across Virginia. This collaboration brings together $155,000 in combined funding, including a $115,000 grant from the Van der Lely Foundation, a $30,000 contribution from VSDA, and a $10,000 sponsorship from Farm Credit of the Virginias specifically for Southwest Virginia schools. The program provides schools with equipment, training, and technical support to transition from single-use milk cartons to modern milk dispensers, aiming to enhance student access to real dairy milk while supporting sustainability goals and reducing cafeteria waste.
Key players driving this initiative include Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance, who emphasizes that the program removes barriers to making real dairy milk more accessible, and Eric Paulson, executive director of VSDA, who highlights how strong partnerships help schools connect with students while supporting local dairy farmers. The Dairy Alliance's Youth Wellness team works closely with school nutrition directors to implement the program and promote the nutritional benefits of dairy. The initiative addresses a critical public health concern: nearly three-quarters of children ages two through eighteen fall short of recommended daily dairy intake. Early results are promising, with one Virginia school reporting a nearly 90% reduction in milk packaging waste and a more than 50% increase in milk consumption, while participating schools consistently see average milk movement increases of at least 14%.
With this combined funding, the MD Grant Program will expand into additional Virginia cities and counties beginning in early 2026, with ongoing data collection to track environmental impact, milk usage, and student engagement. School nutrition directors and administrators interested in applying can contact Roseanne Liberatore with The Dairy Alliance for more information. For additional details about The Dairy Alliance and their initiatives, visit https://thedairyalliance.com. This program represents a meaningful intersection of nutrition education, environmental sustainability, and support for local agriculture, creating a win-win scenario for students, schools, and dairy farmers across the Commonwealth.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Virginia Schools Get $155K Boost for Sustainable Milk Dispenser Program
