Community
2024 Green Pastures Award Winner – Caverly Farms LLC
Eleven families were nominated this year at the Maine Dairy Seminar and online as Maine representatives for the 2024 New England Green Pastures Award, and three operations were finalists. The selection committee visited these farms in mid-June and selected Caverly Farm for the 2024 Maine Dairy Farm and Family of the Year. Their … Continued
The Sweetcream Taste
Jacqui DeFranca and Jon Denton have always loved ice cream. Now the pair own their own ice cream shop in Jon’s hometown of Biddeford, where locally sourced ingredients have always been the focus.The two met in New York City while working at the same restaurant. When they began dating, ice cream dates were a … Continued
2023 Green Pastures Award Winner – Green Valle Farm
The Maine Green Pastures Program committee visited two dairy farms in July 2023, and they selected Green Valle Farm for the 2023 Maine Dairy Farm and Family of the Year (Green Pasture Award). The Green Valle Farm began when the Miller’s settled in Newburg, ME, in the mid-1850s. Linwood and Myron Miller, Heath’s … Continued
2022 Green Pastures Award Winner – Paine Farm
The Maine Green Pastures committee visited two Maine dairy farms on Friday, July 1, 2022, and selected Paine Farm as the recipient of the 2022 Maine Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year. The Paine’s will represent Maine dairy farmers over the next year. Dean and Juanita Paine are the current owners of this … Continued
10 THINGS I LEARNED FROM DAIRY FARMERS IN MAINE
By Amelia Sullivan, BS, Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council Dietetic Intern As a Dietetic Intern, you learn several unique things – like how to write a nutrition support prescription or how many FTEs you may need if you’re a manager. Each day in the internship is a new day full of the potential to … Continued
2020 Maine Green Pastures Winner – Lowell Family Farm
The Lowell Family Farm is a perfect example of how no two dairy farms are alike. Each operates based on a number of factors including the interests and skillsets of the farmers and employees, available land, facilities, agricultural philosophies, and even the chosen breed of cattle for that farm, to name a few. “It didn’t … Continued
What People Have to Say
Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council works with schools across the state, offering grants each year for needed school nutrition equipment.
Ellen Dore, RSU 16
The staff loves them (the red coolers) because they are just the right size for milk, pack out field trips and they keep everything cold. Kids at the summer camp help to unload the van and it's a competition as to who can carry the red bag by themselves without needing help (Milk helps to grow muscles twice-once to carry it and twice drinking it!) Once again, the red cooler bags helped to make the summer a success!!!
Mary Sue Thompson, Machias
The smoothie machine prompted creativity from our kitchen staff, and the students now appreciate the variety in their breakfasts. Support like this helps small rural schools offer diverse menu options.
Perley Martin, RSU 71
Thank you so much for your continued partnership to make our program better.
Tammy Connors, RSU 74
All of the RSU #74 schools have been fortunate to receive generous support, encouragement and funding from the Maine Dairy & Nutrition Council. Most recently, our High School received a needed Milk Barrel in the fitting Cow Pattern to go along with our farming communities. Our 3 elementary schools have held many friendly competitions to raise awareness of the importance of healthy habits & drinking vitamin rich milk. The support we have received over the years is invaluable and provides not only the financial support but resources and knowledge to help us all, in the classrooms and kitchens, to educate students on the importance of making life-long healthy choices.
Tyler Guerin, Portland Public Schools Nutrition Program
They (red insulated coolers) were essential in serving our community during the summer months, allowing our program to focus on meal quality without worrying about limited cooler space.
Melissa Belanger, RSU 87
The addition of the yogurt bar to our breakfast has given the students participating more choices which I believe has helped us to keep our numbers where they are at now. We are so appreciative of this grant and all it has helped us to accomplish.
