Immigration Reform: Gang of Eight Proposal Just the Beginning
January 31, 2013 — National Milk’s Chris Galen joined us on Thursday’s DairyLine with the latest on what’s happening with immigration reform.
Archive for the ‘NMPF’ Category
Farm Bill at Top of “To Do” List
January 24, 2013 — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants the passing of the Farm Bill to be at the top of the “to do” list for Congress. National Milk’s Chris Galen tells us the latest in this DairyBusiness Radio Podcast.
Dairy Unity Sought on Immigration Reform
January 17, 2013 — The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has joined a broad cross-section of organizations representing agricultural employers in a collective effort to reform federal immigration policies.
NMPF’s Chris Galen tells us more about the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) in this DairyBusiness Radio podcast.
National Milk Addresses 2013 Priorities
January 10, 2013 — With a new farm bill delayed at least until spring 2013 and other legislative priorities such as immigration reform coming soon to the attention of the new Congress, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) announced two of its top priorities for the coming year. National Milk’s Chris Galen tells us in this DairyBusiness Radio Podcast:
NMPF: Backroom Deal Extends Status Quo
January 3, 2013 — National Milk’s Chris Galen comments on the backroom deal that extends existing farm programs in 2013.
“Faces of Farming” Finalists Announced
December 13, 2012 — Two dairy farmers are among the finalists in a nationwide search for farmers and ranchers who will be part of a campaign in 2013 to help connect consumers with the sources of their food. The contest is being run by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), a coalition of which the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is a member.
National Milk’s Chris Galen tells us more in this DairyBusiness Radio Podcast:
Third Quarter Import Watch
Decemeber 6, 2012 — National Milk’s Jim Tillision updates us on the latest import stats.
Congress Has Some Heavy Lifting During Holidays
November 21, 2012 — Everyone is hoping the lame duck session can produce some results. National Milk’s Chris Galen gives us an update from the nation’s Capital.
Revitalizing the REAL Seal
October 24, 2012 — As part of its efforts to revitalize one of the most recognized product symbols in the food industry, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) announced today that the REAL® Seal is undergoing a makeover. The first step in that process was taken Tuesday, with the launch of a revamped website: www.realseal.com.
The previous website existed primarily as a resource for dairy product manufacturers and marketers interested in putting the REAL® Seal on their packaging. The new website will contain more content to educate consumers about why they should look for the REAL® Seal on the foods they buy, while also continuing to provide information for those companies using the REAL® Seal to enhance their product marketing.
“Research has found that 93 percent of consumers know of the REAL® Seal, and that many people find it useful in making buying decisions,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF, the organization driving this effort.
Effective March 15, 2012, the management of the REAL® Seal program was transferred from the United Dairy Industry Association to NMPF. This change was the result of an agreement between the two organizations that the transfer was the best opportunity to place a renewed emphasis on highlighting the importance and value of American-made dairy foods.
“Imitation products made from vegetables and nuts, but packaged like real dairy products and often using dairy names, have proliferated in the last few years,” said Kozak. “For example, frozen desserts made out of soybeans are packaged the same as real ice cream made from cows’ milk, with pictures that make it look like real ice cream. The only way a consumer would know the product isn’t ice cream is by reading the ingredients label.”
The same is true for other processed foods made with imitation dairy products, noted Kozak.
“Currently, frozen pizza is essentially the only processed food that uses the REAL® Seal. We intend to expand the products eligible to use the REAL® Seal beyond that that category.”
To address expanded use of the REAL® Seal, the seal itself is in the process of being tailored to other applications. Terms like “Made With” real dairy, and “American Made,” along with specific dairy product names, will be stacked above and below the basic REAL® Seal.
“Our goal is to have a fully integrated program up and running early in 2013,” Kozak said. “We know dairy farmers are enthusiastic about the REAL® Seal, and we’re excited about the tremendous potential this has for expanding sales of REAL® dairy products made from U.S. dairy farmers’ milk.”
“Consumers continue to express an interest in food quality and integrity, through the choices they make at grocery stores and restaurants,” Kozak said. “Labeling is an integral part of creating and maintaining a dialogue with them.”
As a result of this change in management, “the program will now strive to educate new generations of dairy consumers about the significance of the REAL® Seal, revitalizing the brand and talking to them about the good taste, nutritional value, and wholesomeness associated with dairy foods and dairy food ingredients made from milk produced in the United States,” Kozak added.
The National Milk Producers Federation, based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well-being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 30 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. Visit www.nmpf.org for more information.
Congress Expected To Go Home Without A Farm Bill
September 20, 2012 — National Milk’s Chris Galen told DairyLine Radio listeners Thursday that we are in uncharted waters after the House of Representatives decided not to deal with the Farm Bill before adjouring Friday.
