The Texas Dairy Industry’s Food Bank Partnership
Food banks want fresh protein and dairy, and dairies sometimes have the product to give. This guide explains how partnerships generally work and what to ask before you start.
Why do food banks want dairy?
Milk, cheese and yogurt are nutritious, but they are perishable, so they are hard for food banks to stock. A partnership can fill that gap. The title refers to the Texas industry's food bank partnership in general terms, and the details should be verified with the dairy groups and food banks involved.
The USDA publishes general nutrition and food assistance information, and Dairy MAX promotes dairy in the Southwest.
Dairy is one of the more requested items at pantries, and also one of the hardest to keep on shelves, so the demand for reliable, safe dairy donations is real. The more predictable your donations, the easier it is for a pantry to plan around them.
Cooperation among groups is the heart of a good partnership. A dairy cooperative, a food bank and a hauling company may each hold a piece of the solution, and a short meeting to map out who does what can prevent a lot of confusion.
How does a partnership usually work?
A dairy, processor or retailer offers product or money. A food bank or pantry receives it, stores it and hands it out. Between them is a chain of logistics: pickup, refrigeration, tracking and distribution.
Many food banks have rules for accepting donations, such as date limits and temperature checks. Ask for a written list before you load a truck.
Consider whether a processor or distributor is better positioned to make the donation. Many farms sell milk to cooperatives or processors, and the processor may have the facilities to pack and deliver dairy products in a form pantries can use.
- Who pays for transport?
- What are the cold chain requirements?
- Is there a pickup schedule?
- What is the dating policy?
- What records are required?
What about food safety?
Dairy needs steady refrigeration. The FDA and CDC publish guidance on safe handling and temperature control, and your state and local health departments set their own rules. Work with the food bank's safety lead.
Document temperatures during transport and at delivery. A simple log protects the recipient and the donor.
Temperature logs do not need to be fancy. A thermometer, a clipboard and a habit of writing down the time and temperature at each handoff works. Keep the log for your records.
How can a small dairy take part?
You do not need a big operation. A small dairy can donate on a regular schedule, help fund a freezer or sponsor a drive. The small farm guide can help you think about balancing generosity and a thin budget, and the farm money guide has budgeting basics.
Talk to your accountant about how donations are recorded and what tax rules apply. The IRS has general guidance.
Cash donations let food banks buy what they need when they need it, and they often stretch farther through bulk purchasing. If you give product, make sure it fits the pantry's needs.
How can communities support the effort?
Volunteers, drivers, cold storage space and cash donations all help. Schools, churches and FFA chapters can run drives, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension often knows who needs help in each county.
In west-central Texas, distances are long, so partnerships that share trucks and schedules can stretch a donation further.
Smaller communities may have a church pantry or a school backpack program instead of a regional food bank. The same principles apply: call first, deliver safely and keep records.
What should you keep in mind?
Be careful with claims. If you advertise a partnership, make sure you have the recipient's permission and that the details are accurate. Check the wording with the organization.
For a lighter look at the dairy world, farm.FM has dairy stories and farm news, including a farm.FM piece about dairy and food banks. Confirm current partnership details with the organizations involved.
Respect the privacy of families who receive food. Photographs and publicity should focus on volunteers and donors, not on the people being helped.
Be patient with the paperwork. Donation receipts, inspection records and agreements take time, but they protect everybody and make the partnership last through staff changes. Keep copies in one folder so a new volunteer can pick up where the last one left off.
Sources and further reading
- USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Dairy MAX: dairy promotion in the Southwest
- FDA: food and drug safety
- CDC: public health
- IRS: federal tax guidance
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Texas extension service
Ask locally: Ask your local food bank's partnership coordinator and your county Extension agent.