Pizza and dairy go hand in hand. What cheese trends are popular in the pizza world? What are pizzeria operators looking for in terms of pizza cheese? What is in store for the future of pizza? This week on The Dairy Download, we are joined by experts in pizza and cheese: Kelly Norton, senior director, enterprise brand for Grande Cheese Company, and Derek Lee, restauranter and owner of Pizza Brutta. Tune in now to hear this piping hot new episode! If your company is interested in sponsoring a bloc...
Aug 18, 2025•39 min
Ice cream consumers today are chasing bold flavors, cleaner labels, and nostalgic experiences. How do consumer trends impact flavor and product development? Where is the future of ice cream heading? How will the supply chain react to new demands? This week on The Dairy Download, we hear from three ice cream experts: Logan Cisewski, technical sales manager and application specialist at IRCA Group, along with Rich Draper, CEO and co-founder of The Ice Cream Club, and Heather Draper, director of Th...
Aug 04, 2025•37 min
Butterfat levels continue to climb in the nation’s dairy herd. How is domestic demand impacting this trend? What nutritional factors move the needle when it comes to producing more butterfat? What can the dairy industry do to utilize this extra butterfat? Listen to this week's episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two experts who are tuned in to milk production and demand across the country: Corey Geiger, lead economist for dairy production and processing in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange rese...
Jul 21, 2025•38 min
How has technology impacted the way dairy farms are managed? How have the components of milk—like fat and protein content—changed in the dairy herd over time, and what’s driving those changes? What's next for dairy farmers as processing capacity expands? Listen to this week's episode of The Dairy Download to hear from four special guests who work at the dairy farm level. They also happen to be family members of our podcast hosts! Ron and Randy Franck, Iowa dairy farmers and Phil's family by marr...
Jun 27, 2025•40 min
Where is the industry seeing increases in dairy processing capacity? What factors are driving this change? How are dairy farmers responding to this growth in demand? Listen to this week's episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two guests who are tuned in to the factors influencing dairy processing capacity increases across the country: Rick Naerebout, CEO of Idaho Dairymen's Association; and Betsy Erdelyi, managing director with BMO Harris Bank. If your company is interested in sponsoring a ...
Jun 16, 2025•40 min
How are sweeteners developed to meet the flavor profile and nutrition needs for dairy products? How can flavors like vanilla be used to enhanced yogurts and frozen desserts? What innovations are on the horizon in this space? Join us for this week's episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two guests who work at the forefront of innovation in sweeteners and flavors: Melissa Kaczmarczyk, PhD, MPH, principal scientist for North America, global nutrition with Tate & Lyle; and Darian Rottmann, ...
Jun 02, 2025•38 min
How can dairy drive performance for athletes and gamers? What are the benefits of drinking milk both for nutrition and hydration? How can we increase public awareness of the sports nutrition implications of dairy products? Join us for this week's episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two guests who are keyed in to all things dairy and sports nutrition: Leslie Bonci, owner of the nutrition consulting company Active Eating Advice - Be Fit, Fed, and Fearless; and Jen Grubb, senior marketing ma...
May 19, 2025•36 min
What exciting opportunities are on the horizon for the dairy supply chain? Where is the industry seeing growth, and where are there opportunities for investment? How can the industry come together to tackle today's challenges? Join us for this week's episode of The Dairy Download to hear three CEOs who are leading forward in the dairy industry. Daragh Maccabee, CEO of Idaho Milk Products; Joe Diglio, President and CEO of Michigan Milk Products; and Seth Teply, President and CEO, U.S. and Canada ...
May 01, 2025•32 min
What tariffs are currently in place? How will these tariffs impact dairy industry growth? What is the long term outlook for U.S. trade relations? Join us for this week's episode of The Dairy Download to hear from a panel of three experts on trade and the U.S. dairy market. Jeffrey Weiss, partner at Steptoe LLP; Matt Gould, senior director at Ever.Ag; and Joe Glauber, PhD, research fellow emeritus in the director general's office at the International Food Policy Research Institute will discuss re...
Apr 17, 2025•39 min
Many cultured dairy products like kefir and skyr have established a growing presence in the U.S. market. What makes these products popular among U.S. consumers? What market trends lie ahead for these products? Tune in to this week's episode of The Dairy Download to hear insights from two experts driving cultured dairy brands: Julie Smolyansky, president and chief executive officer of Lifeway Foods, and David Greci, brand director for Siggi's, as they talk about the journey to bring these culture...
Apr 04, 2025•34 min
Strong leadership is critical to ensure that the dairy industry continues to grow, innovate and thrive. What makes a good leader? How can leaders step up to support their teams and continue building a successful future for the dairy industry? Listen to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two distinguished leaders in the dairy industry: Sheryl Meshke, CEO of Associated Milk Producers Inc., and Patricia Stroup, former senior vice president and chief procurement officer at Nestlé...
Mar 21, 2025•31 min
Dairy provides 13 essential nutrients that are central to good health for Americans. However, there are still barriers to accessing these benefits for many communities across the country. What health and nutrition benefits do dairy products offer to improve health outcomes? How can the dairy industry partner with physicians to communicate dairy's health benefits? Listen to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two experts on nutrition access: Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Fe...
Mar 07, 2025•43 min
U.S. Secretary of Heath and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has elevated the "Make America Healthy Again" movement, pledging to implement its agenda through federal policymaking, while Congress forms a MAHA Caucus to explore legislative avenues. How will this movement affect policy change in food, agriculture, and nutrition? Hear from two experts on food policy: Brian Ronholm, director of food policy for Consumer Reports, and Helena Bottemiller Evich, founder and editor-in-chief of Food F...
Feb 21, 2025•42 min
Snacking is another great opportunity for Americans to consume dairy in their day-to-day lives. What trends are on the rise for snack foods? And how does dairy fit in as a healthy snack option? Listen to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two experts on dairy products for snacking: Rod Hogan, senior vice president of new platform development at Sargento, and Dhriti Batra, brand director for Lactalis Heritage Dairy's cultured dairy business. If your company is interested in sp...
Feb 07, 2025•37 min
As we kick off 2025, what are the trends, surprises, highs and lows shaping dairy markets? How did consumer demand fluctuate last year? What opportunities are there for growth in the coming year? Listen to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from our panel of dairy market experts: Eric Meyer, president of HighGround Dairy, Rebecca Wallick, senior director for dairy sourcing & policy with HP Hood, and Mary Ledman, global dairy strategist with Rabobank. If your company is interes...
Jan 09, 2025•35 min
The holiday season is here! What holiday trends impact consumer demand for dairy? How does dairy show up in delicious holiday delights? Listen to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download as we talk with two experts who can help us dive into holiday dairy flavors, trends, recipes, and more: Tyler Holm, CEO of Horizon Organic Dairy, and Matt Flavin, West Division Sales Manager for Cheese Merchants. If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA...
Dec 23, 2024•34 min
New market access and increased exports continue to be key priorities for the dairy industry. What is the current trade outlook for dairy? What could new tariffs mean for dairy trade? What are the opportunities for growth under the incoming administration and new Congress? Tune in to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two experts tuned into all things trade policy to help us understand what's next for dairy: Ron Baumgarten, of counsel at BakerHostetler, and Steve Orava, partn...
Dec 12, 2024•37 min
Butter is back and better than ever! What are consumers looking for from their butter? What is the outlook for butter demand? How are companies staying on the cutting edge of product innovation? Tune in to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from butter experts working to bring the best of butter to American consumers: Adam Mueller, CEO with Minerva Dairy, and Sarah Healy, senior vice president of marketing with Cabot Creamery. If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of...
Oct 17, 2024•34 min•Season 10Ep. 10
Delicious, and packed with 13 essential nutrients that we all need to thrive and live healthy lives, dairy stands out as a key solution to addressing hunger and food insecurity. How are dairy industry leaders tapping into dairy's nutritional potential to address nutritional challenges? Tune in to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two experts at the forefront of innovation and partnerships in nutrition and hunger solutions. We are thrilled to be joined by Nishant Roy, chief i...
Oct 03, 2024•39 min•Season 10Ep. 9
Dairy ingredient companies are constantly innovating to meet the rising and changing consumer demands for functional nutrition. Where is this market headed? How are leaders in this space highlighting dairy’s health benefits and staying relevant to today’s consumer? Tune in to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear two nutrition and functional dairy product experts discuss the latest trends shaping the health-enhancing product market. Vivien Sheehan, Vice President of Business Developm...
Aug 23, 2024•39 min•Season 10Ep. 8
Health and wellness are top priorities for many American consumers. With high nutrient density and key benefits for gut health and bone density, yogurt and cultured dairy products are increasingly popular foods to meet consumer preferences. What does the latest science reveal about the health benefits of these products? How can companies balance nutritional goals with consumer taste preferences? What innovations are on the horizon for this category? Tune in to this week’s episode of The Dairy Do...
Aug 09, 2024•37 min•Season 10Ep. 7
From quick service restaurants to casual eateries and fine dining, restaurants are serving up delicious meals and innovative deals to customers every day. What flavor and product trends are appearing most on menus? What segments of the food service industry are currently seeing the most traffic? Tune in to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to dig in to the latest in food service industry trends! We are joined by two experts who work closely with restaurants to talk about traffic patterns...
Jul 12, 2024•41 min•Season 10Ep. 6
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Summer is here and National Ice Cream Month is right around the corner, which means it’s a great time to chat about America’s favorite frozen treat. What are the latest and greatest ice cream flavors on the market? How do consumer preferences around ice cream change in the summer months? Tune in to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to find out! We are joined by two leading ice cream companies to talk about flavor development, frozen nove...
Jun 21, 2024•38 min•Season 10Ep. 5
Research suggests that Americans of all backgrounds recognize the nutritional importance of dairy. And yet, about 90% of Americans still do not get enough dairy in their diet. How can we change that? What lactose-free dairy options are currently available and how do we see the category expanding? What barriers still exist to dairy nutrition? Join us for this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two experts about the barriers to dairy nutrition among Americans, how the dairy industry...
Jun 07, 2024•41 min•Season 10Ep. 4
With advancements in technology and innovations in digital retail and marketing, it is becoming easier and easier for consumers to find the products they need online. As online retail becomes more prevalent, what does that mean for dairy? What levels of growth are we seeing in online grocery shopping? How does the digital shelf impact brick and mortal retail? Join us for this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to get insight into the online food retail world from two experts who have a pulse o...
May 24, 2024•38 min•Season 10Ep. 3
From increasing dairy capacity and rising exports to decreased milk production and variable consumer demand, the beginning of 2024 has presented the dairy industry with plenty of tailwinds and headwinds. What was the most surprising market trend from the past few months? What factors will drive the dairy market moving forward? Tune in to get insight from two expert panelists on where the dairy market stands today and what we can expect as we dive into the summer months! Sara Dorland managing par...
May 10, 2024•30 min•Season 10Ep. 2
Sweet dreams are truly made of cheese! From brie, mozzarella, and parmesan to pepperoncino and burrata, there’s a cheese for every occasion. More and more consumers are reaching for specialty cheeses for their cooking, charcuterie, and snacking needs. What does that mean for innovation in specialty cheeses? How do cheese companies adapt to changing consumer preferences and demand? Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests at the center of the specialty cheese industry, who can ta...
Apr 26, 2024•43 min•Season 10Ep. 1
AI is on the cutting edge of new and growing technology that can be leveraged to enhance production, supply chain efficiency, and product sales. How are dairy companies adapting to incorporate this tool into their operations? What else is on the horizon for AI, and how can the dairy industry rise to meet it? Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests who know how powerful AI can be as an advantage for dairy businesses and have built partnerships across the industry to realize this...
Apr 12, 2024•43 min•Season 9Ep. 8
Consumer debt is on the rise. Interest rates and land values remain high. Global agricultural trade has been flat while production increases. So, where is the ag economy headed? Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests who know the ins and outs of agricultural markets. Corey Geiger, the lead economist for dairy production and processing with CoBank, and Dr. Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist within Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute, talk to us about interest rates, la...
Mar 29, 2024•43 min•Season 9Ep. 7
GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic are traditionally prescribed to treat diabetes and obesity. But recently, these drugs have broken into the mainstream as a weight loss solution. As we learn more about the implications and long-term effects of these drugs, questions arise about their impact on food demand. Are medications like Ozempic here to stay? And what does their increasing popularity mean for food sales and consumer trends? Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests have ana...
Mar 15, 2024•38 min•Season 9Ep. 6
