IDFA, Miceli Dairy Products Host Rep. Shontel Brown at Cleveland Dairy Facility for Tour, Industry Roundtable

Visit Highlights Dairy Industry Growth and Policy Priorities Supporting Nutrition, Manufacturing and the Dairy Supply Chain.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and Miceli Dairy Products welcomed Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) to Miceli’s Cleveland facility for a tour and roundtable discussion with dairy leaders representing IDFA member companies

across the dairy supply chain. The visit brought together dairy farmers, processors, manufacturers and industry partners to discuss the dairy industry’s growing economic impact and the policy priorities necessary to support continued growth and investment in Ohio and across the country.

The U.S. dairy industry continues to invest in new processing capacity, advanced manufacturing technologies and innovative products that support America’s food system, create and sustain jobs, bolster economic activity and strengthen communities nationwide. Dairy processors have announced more than $15 billion in new processing capacity expected to come online by 2028, investments that are expanding American manufacturing and creating economic opportunities up and down the dairy supply chain. The discussion in Cleveland focused on policies affecting dairy manufacturing, nutrition and the broader dairy supply chain, including passage of a five-year Farm Bill, continued access to nutritious dairy foods, policies affecting the labeling of dairy foods, transportation and other measures important to dairy manufacturers.

“Across the country, dairy companies are making historic investments to meet growing, create jobs and strengthen American manufacturing and local economies,”” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA. “Realizing the full potential of those investments requires sound policies that give dairy manufacturers and farmers certainty, connect American families with nutritious dairy foods and strengthen the supply chain that moves those foods from farms to consumers. We appreciate the opportunity to discuss important dairy priorities directly with Congresswoman Brown.”

The tour of Miceli’s Cleveland facility offered Rep. Brown a firsthand look at dairy manufacturing and the company’s ongoing investment in its operations. Miceli’s is currently undertaking Phase I of a $128 million expansion at its Cleveland dairy processing facility. This investment will create 50 additional jobs, further strengthening Miceli’s contribution to Cleveland and Ohio. A multigenerational, family-owned and operated Italian cheese company, Miceli’s has made traditional ricotta, mozzarella and provolone in Cleveland since 1949.

“As a family-owned dairy manufacturer, we understand firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing our industry. It was an honor to welcome Representative Shontel Brown and fellow dairy industry leaders to Miceli’s today for such a productive discussion,” said Maria Miceli, vice president of marketing at Miceli Dairy Products. “Events like this are an important reminder of what we can accomplish when manufacturers, industry partners, and policymakers come together to support American dairy, strengthen our communities, and create opportunities for future generations.”

“Miceli’s is a Cleveland icon. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about their facility, meet with workers, and talk about how we can help dairy farmers and retailers in Ohio and across the country thrive,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “It’s exciting to see Miceli’s invest in Cleveland and support good jobs in our community. I’m grateful to everyone at Miceli Dairy Products, the International Dairy Foods Association, and the producers from across the region for taking their time to meet with me at today’s roundtable.”

The roundtable brought together leaders from IDFA, Miceli’s and nine other IDFA member companies to discuss the future of dairy manufacturing and policies affecting dairy businesses, farmers and consumers. Participants emphasized several priorities for policymakers:

• Passing a new five-year Farm Bill that includes key dairy priorities, including expansion of the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program (DNIP), permanent authorization of Mandatory Cost Surveys and the Dairy Forward Pricing Program, and other provisions that provide long-term certainty for dairy farmers and processors;
• Protecting access to nutritious dairy foods and ensuring federal nutrition policies reflect decades of nutrition science and dairy’s important role in healthy diets;
• Avoiding overly broad “ultra-processed food” definitions or warning-label requirements that could inadvertently discourage consumption of nutrient-dense dairy foods;
• Supporting the bipartisan CURD Act, which would establish a federal definition of “natural cheese” and provide greater clarity and consistency for consumers and regulators;
• Advancing surface transportation policies that address dairy supply-chain challenges and support the efficient movement of dairy products; and
• Preserving nutritious dairy options in school meals, including flavored milk and yogurt, as federal policymakers consider future nutrition requirements.

“Visits like today’s are invaluable because they give policymakers an opportunity to see firsthand the people, innovation and investment behind America’s dairy industry,” added Dykes. “The policies Congress considers have real-world implications for dairy manufacturers, farmers and the many families who depend on nutritious dairy foods. We appreciate Representative Brown’s engagement with Ohio’s dairy community and her interest in hearing directly from our industry leaders about the policies that will help dairy continue to grow and deliver for Americans.”

To learn more about the state of dairy, visit IDFA.org.