For over a century, Dairy Council of California has been dedicated to improving the well-being of children, families and communities by promoting the adoption of lifelong healthy eating patterns. It began with our first public health campaign in 1919 to improve health outcomes through school milk at a time when many children battled rickets, which weakened and softened their bones. Our founders, dairy farmers Sam Greene and Chester Earl Gray, identified milk and vitamin D as a solution to the nutrient deficiency problem that led to rickets and quickly activated what is now Dairy Council of California to be part of the solution.

September is an especially important month for Dairy Council of California as it is Hunger Action Month, and World School Milk Day is Wednesday, September 27, 2023. We celebrate milk and dairy foods as a nutrition security solution now just as we did in 1919 to support children’s growth and development.

Hunger Action Month is a nationwide, annual campaign uniting us in our efforts to increase awareness of hunger in the United States and ignite a call to action. We support Feeding America’s goal of moving us closer to an America where no one is hungry. We strongly believe that milk and dairy foods, especially school milk, are nutritious, accessible and affordable, helping children reach their full potential.

Please take this opportunity to celebrate the role of school milk in nourishing young Americans on World School Milk Day this September 27, 2023.

Learn more about World School Milk Day and access our toolkit for ideas to celebrate at HealthyEating.org/WSMD.