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Volume 21, No. 12
What does sustainability mean to food companies? Taco Bell, Ben and Jerry’s, pork board share thoughts during panel at Dairy Experience Forum By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Taco Bell puts more thought into its food beyond whether there is enough cheese or avor. It now also focuses on animal welfare and removing antibiotics important to human medicine out of its chicken supply. “We’re rethinking what sustainability means for our brand and how we can start telling that story to consumers, knowing consumers really care about it,” said Marissa Thiry, a registered dietitian and nutrition specialist, North America for Taco Bell. Sustainability has been a hot topic for many companies in recent years. But how do they dene it? Thiry weighed in on the conversation during a sustainability panel July 18 at the Dairy Experience Forum in St. Paul, Minn. The panel, moderated by Krysta Harden, executive vice president of global environmental strategy for Dairy Management Inc., also included Bill Even, CEO of the National Pork Board and Cheryl Pinto, Global Values Led Sourcing for Ben and Jerry’s. “Sustainability is pretty new to Taco Bell,” Thiry said. Recently, Yum! Brands Inc. – the parent corporation of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC – dened sustainability in three pillars: food, people and planet. This means they are working more closely with their suppliers and product development partners, including Dairy Management Inc. “They’re working hand in hand with us to bring new innovation but also sustainability and nutrition efforts to life in a way that makes sense to our brand,” Thiry said. “As a whole, animal welfare in the supply chain is really becoming a part of the sustainability Turn to FORUM | Page 5
August 10, 2019
WI herd to showcase at MN State Fair
Grewes will bring string of Guernseys, Jerseys By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com
CUMBERLAND, Wis. – A string of cattle will once again be featured at the Minnesota State Fair as part of the Moo Booth’s dairy showcase herd. However, this year, those cattle are coming from a bordering state. For the rst time in the known history of the event, a Wisconsin herd will represent the dairy showcase. “In the Moo Booth, it’s always been our purpose to represent the dairy industry in the best way possible with the best resources we have Turn to GREWES | Page 6
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Valley Gem Farms crew – (from leŌ) ScoƩ Weisensel, Deb Lakey, Laura Jensen, Lauryn Weisensel, Emma Weisensel, Hailey Weisensel, and Brandon and Kim Grewe – are presented with the premier breeder award at the Wisconsin state show this summer. The Grewes, of Cumberland, Wis., will feature their Guernseys and Jerseys in the Minnesota State Fair’s dairy showcase, Aug. 22 - Sept. 2.
Cows take a ride for milking
Millers build 32-stall internal rotary parlor By Krista Kuzma
krista.k@dairystar.com
LEWISTON, Minn. – Like kids on a carnival ride, cows at Clear Crest Farm go round and round on a slowly circling platform. It’s part of their three-time-a-day schedule to be milked. “Most cows have trained themselves,” Luke Miller said about how the cows get on and off. Having the cows take a ride to be milked has been the routine for the Millers’ 700-cow herd since March 2018, when they started using their new 32-stall internal rotary parlor on their dairy near Lewiston, Minn. “If we wanted to continue with farming, we needed to make an investment in our facility,” Miller said. “It’s been an improvement for employees and cows.” KRISTA KUZMA/DAIRY STAR The Millers – Jack and Pat, along An employee milks cows July 30 in the 32-stall internal rotary parlor at Clear Crest Farm with their sons, Luke and Rob, and owned by the Miller family near Lewiston, Minn. The Millers milk 700 cows. Turn to MILLERS | Page 7