BURLINGTON, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, celebrated the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent launch of the Organic Dairy Product Promotion (ODPP) program, which will invest $15 million in expanding access to organic dairy products to K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and other community-based programs for youth.  

The ODPP program is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation and implemented through Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives, including Vermont’s Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), which is hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. 

“This investment by USDA in organic dairy farms is a win-win—it will help get nutritious farm-fresh organic dairy to kids and create new market opportunities for Vermont-sized organic dairy producers,” said Senator Welch. “I’ll keep fighting for more federal investments to strengthen Vermont dairy farms and create healthier futures for our kids and grandkids.” 

USDA announced the program at Miller Farm in Vernon, Vt., which previously received USDA funding from the NE-DBIC to provide organic milk directly from the farm to a dozen local schools. 

“From the bottom of my heart, I really want the next generation to know where their food comes from and to increase our food security by decentralization. It has been a privilege to work so directly with schools and to host children on our farm and show them where their food comes from. I would love to see this model replicated across our nation,” said Peter Miller of Miller Farm. 

The Senate’s draft Farm Bill, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act, includes several priorities championed by Senator Welch that will support Vermont’s dairy farms, including funding to reauthorize and increase authorization for the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives program.