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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 back in the barn
Danz brings bovines back to family farm By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com
LIVINGSTON, Wis. – This spring, Nathan Danz decided to take the plunge he’d been contemplating for a while, making the decision to embark on his own dairy farming career. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do,” Danz said. “Ever since high school, I’ve always had the dream of having cows back in this barn. It was just a matter of making it happen.” The barn that Danz always dreamed of lling back up with milking cows has belonged to his grandfather since 1980. His grandfather’s herd of milk cows left the farm in August 2003. Nearly 16 years later, armed with determination, Danz turned the milker pump on again June 27, milking his newly-acquired 50-cow herd. Following his high school graduation, Danz worked on his father’s DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR farm, just a mile up the road. In 2016, Nathan Danz milks 50 cows at his grandfather’s farm near Livingston, Wis. Danz put his rst after suffering an accident, Danz’s milking in the bulk tank June 27 aŌer the barn sat empty for 16 years. Turn to DANZ | Page 7