This week’s news from American Dairy Association North East — the dairy farmer-funded and directed organization using checkoff dollars to deliver a strategic, comprehensive marketing plan on behalf of dairy farmers.

Dairy farmer Joel Riehlman of Venture Farms, Fabius, N.Y., and his Onondaga County 4-H Club participated in a milk distribution drive today in Syracuse.

As part of ADA North East’s National Dairy Month digital campaign with Price Chopper/Market 32, the retailer featured a Facebook Live interview with New York dairy farmer Lisa Porter of Porterdale Farms in Adams Center.

ADA North East’s 2019 annual report is now available online. The report includes a message from the dairy farmer chairmen and the CEO, and details the association’s programs related to retail, youth educational programs in schools, consumer education and media outreach, farmer advocacy, hunger relief collaborations, environmental partnerships, dairy princess programs, and national partnerships. Financial records are also included to explain the income and expenditures of dairy farmer checkoff investments.

With the surplus of milk during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, pizza became the top source of cheese usage, outselling all other food service categories during the quarantine. In general, about 25 percent of cheese sold through the foodservice channel is used on pizza.

For previous issues of Checkoff Check-in, click here.