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This global initiative was established in 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to recognize the importance of milk as a global food, and to celebrate the dairy sector.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative is proud to celebrate our producers and employees who make it possible to supply delicious dairy products that nourish life. The dairy food group provides essential nutrients, like calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein, that are often under-consumed but are vital for a healthy body.  Through donations and partnerships, UNC is committed to being part of the solution to make nutrient-rich dairy products more accessible to all of our communities.

We want to celebrate the impressive responsibility our farmers have shown in caring for their animals, the land, and the quality of the milk produced. Every UNC member farm has undergone nationally recognized FARM Animal Care Program Evaluations to demonstrate their commitment to providing excellent care of their cattle and producing safe milk.  Multiple member farms have been nominated and received impressive levels of recognition through The National Dairy Quality Awards for successfully producing milk of the highest quality. 

Every Upstate Niagara Cooperative member farm has undergone nationally recognized FARM Animal Care Program Evaluations to exemplify their commitment to providing excellent cattle care and producing safe milk. Our member farms continue to demonstrate their care for the land and environment through the innate circularity of dairy farming and sustainable conservation practices.

Today, and every day, UNC is excited to celebrate dairy, our farmer owners, the cows, and all the people who make it possible for us to Nourish Life!

Every year on April 22^nd, Earth Day is celebrated in the U.S. This day marks the anniversary of the environmental movement, which began when a Wisconsin Senator created a national celebration to bring awareness to the deterioration of the environment. On April 22, 1970, twenty million Americans across the country demonstrated and voiced their concerns, ultimately leading to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December of that year. Within 10 years from the first Earth Day, many important pieces of legislation were enacted that not only protect the environment but also human health, such as the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act.

This year, 54 years since the first Earth Day, the theme is Planet vs. Plastics. This theme is meant to highlight the impacts of plastic pollution on humans, animals, and environmental health, to promote innovation and more reusable options, and to campaign for a 60% reduction in plastics by 2040.

The dairy industry has been using the widely accepted plastic milk jug since the 1960s and the plastic-coated paper milk carton since the 1930s. Today, more than 75% of all dairy packaging is comprised of plastic. Plastic packaging has allowed for flexibility, strength, stability, and ease of sterilization, while also not affecting the taste or quality of the dairy products. In fact, it has assisted in the increased shelf life for dairy products by providing a strong barrier against physical damage, microbial contamination, and in some cases flavor and odor damage from UV light exposure.

Although it has been proven that plastic makes great product-contact packaging, we all know that action needs to be taken to avoid the projected increases that could lead to more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. Upstate Niagara is committed to continuously lessening our contribution to the world’s plastic pollution by exploring packaging innovations, using recyclable materials, and recycling in our plants and offices.

By working with innovative packaging suppliers who modified yogurt cup production, Upstate Niagara was able to avoid using over 14,000 pounds of resin material in one year. We are also evaluating our recycling processes to ensure that any recyclable materials that are brought into the plants, are properly recycled. In the past 2 years, we have been able to recycle and prevent the pollution of nearly 1.8 million pounds of plastic materials in our processing plants. Additionally, Upstate Niagara’s corporate office installed water bottle filling stations throughout the building, encouraging employees to ditch single use plastic bottles and opt for reusable cups or bottles.  Within the first year, the office has avoided the use of over 10,000 plastic bottles.

We are proud of the efforts of our employees who are doing their part to combat plastic pollution through the materials purchased, prioritizing recycling, and choosing reusable options where they can. These efforts are just the beginning, and we are committed to making continuous improvements over the years.