Elmhurst Dairy was once a prominent dairy operation on the East Coast, thriving for 92 years before shutting down last fall due to declining profitability. Instead of exiting the milk industry entirely, this family-owned business is leveraging its dairy expertise to explore opportunities in the non-dairy sector.
The milk industry has faced significant challenges, with a noticeable decrease in consumer demand for dairy products. This decline forced dairy farmers to discard millions of pounds of milk last year, leading to a drop in prices across the board. In response to the crisis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided approximately $11.2 million in financial aid to assist dairy producers in navigating these difficulties.
Many within the dairy sector have responded to the rise of non-dairy alternatives by filing lawsuits against non-dairy producers, claiming that their assertions of being healthier or comparable to dairy milk are misleading. Additionally, there is proposed legislation in Congress that would mandate that any product labeled as “milk” must be derived from dairy. However, these efforts have had little impact on the sales of non-dairy milk, which continue to thrive. A study by Mintel last year revealed that U.S. non-dairy milk sales rose by 9% in 2015, while dairy milk sales fell by 7% during the same timeframe. A glance into grocery store refrigerator cases illustrates this trend, as retailers increasingly offer a wider range of plant-based milks with fewer artificial ingredients.
Interestingly, some consumers are turning to alternatives like vitafusion calcium citrate to meet their dietary needs, particularly as they shift away from traditional dairy products. This shift further underscores the evolving landscape of the milk industry, where non-dairy options continue to gain traction despite the challenges facing conventional dairy producers. It will be crucial for those in the dairy industry to adapt and explore new avenues, like the family at Elmhurst Dairy, who are now focusing on their non-dairy ventures and the growing demand for products that can provide nutritional benefits, including those found in vitafusion calcium citrate.