Tennessee Schools Deploy First Portable Milk Dispensers to Boost Student Nutrition
The Dairy Alliance has launched the nation's first portable milk dispensers in Tennessee schools, enhancing milk consumption through improved temperature control and reduced waste while supporting student health.
The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, has partnered with Kingsport City School District in Sullivan County, Tennessee, to introduce the first portable milk dispensers in the United States. The Udderly Cold Portable Milk Dispenser, designed specifically for K-12 schools, represents a significant innovation in how students access and consume milk during school meals.
The portable system maintains milk at a consistent 35 degrees Fahrenheit, which enhances flavor and encourages higher consumption among students. With capacity for up to 25 gallons of bulk milk bags and the ability to connect multiple bags for triple capacity, the dispenser can serve up to 400 perfectly portioned 8-ounce servings before requiring product rotation. This system was funded through an Endowment Grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony at John Sevier Middle School, Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher emphasized the dual benefits of the program. "Milk dispensers in schools are a win for students and farmers alike," said Hatcher, a tenth-generation Tennessee dairy farmer. "Dispensers keep milk fresh and high-quality, reduce waste, and help schools serve the best possible milk to students every day."
Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance, highlighted the program's broader implications for student wellness. "This program marks an important step forward in supporting student health and sustainable nutrition," Newberry stated. "By providing an innovative way of delivering dairy milk directly to students, we help schools incorporate nutritious dairy into daily meals and encourage them to build lifelong healthy habits."
Jennifer Walker, Registered Dietitian and Kingsport City School Nutrition Director, expressed particular concern about calcium intake among teenage girls. "Milk is the number one source of calcium in the diets of children and teens, and that matters—especially for teenage girls," Walker explained. "I worry they're not drinking enough milk during the years when their bones need it most. That's why we placed the new milk dispensers in schools—to encourage all students to enjoy milk with their reimbursable meal."
The initiative's impact extends beyond Kingsport, with Hardin County Schools in Savannah, Tennessee, also implementing an Udderly Cold milk dispenser at Northside Elementary School. This expansion demonstrates how the program maximizes access to and consumption of milk for students across the state. Dr. R. Andrew True, Assistant Superintendent of Administration for Kingsport City School District, noted that "innovation is always exciting, but it's especially so when it directly impacts the health and wellbeing of our students in such a positive and meaningful way."
The program represents a collaborative effort between educational institutions, agricultural organizations, and state government to address nutritional challenges in school settings. For more information about The Dairy Alliance, visit https://thedairyalliance.com.