By Jenny Mills, NEAFA President
Just before Halloween, my son brought home a letter from our school district, as many children did throughout the US. It informed us that milk served at lunch might change in the next several months due to an impending shortage of the paper half pint cartons used to package milk. The letter went on to describe that our school would provide milk in cups and other alternatives if the “milk carton shortage” were to come to fruition. Fortunately, milk in cartons has not disappeared in our local school yet, but the supply chain issues with paper cartons is expected to last through the beginning of 2024.
While there is no shortage of fluid milk in the country, Pactiv Evergreen of Lake Forest, Illinois, which bills itself as “the leading manufacturer of fresh food and beverage packaging in North America,” acknowledged in a statement on Nov. 3 that it “continues to face significantly higher than projected demand” for its milk cartons.
The shortage is affecting the company’s ability to “fully supply some school milk orders,” according to Matt Herrick, spokesperson for the International Dairy Foods Association.
Dairy processors, NYS Ag and Markets, NYS Education Department, and industry partners continue to communicate and work collaboratively towards solutions to ensure that milk can still be served in schools and institutions despite the paperboard packaging shortage. The American Dairy Association Northeast (ADANE) has shared some tips for how you can support your local schools during the shortage.
Offer Assistance to Schools
This approach may work best in a school you have a relationship with, for example, the school your children attend or where a family member is an employee.
Send your contact a brief email (suggested text below).
• “Hi, I’m Name (if applicable, give context: XXX’s mom). We know schools are under tremendous pressure to continue serving milk to their students. How can I help you do that?”
• I’m available to help pour milk one day a week (insert preferred availability/frequency).
• I’d like to work with our dairy promotion team/4-H Club, FFA (or other) to coordinate volunteers.
• I have a lead on a place to obtain cup donations.
• I’m willing to coordinate a cup donation drive.
Volunteer to Serve Milk
Like many workplaces, school cafeterias are often short-handed. Offer to help set up a schedule of volunteers to pour milk for students.
• Ask if school clubs would be willing to sign up for shifts. Perhaps organize a friendly competition between groups to rally the most volunteers.
- Sports teams – football team vs. basketball team
- Choir vs. band students
• Ask if student volunteers could get extra credit or if this could count towards service hours for graduation.
Collect Cup Donations
Before starting to solicit donations, check with your school to be sure they will be accepted and what guidelines they may have (certain sizes, packaging, delivery instructions, etc.).
• Think about some of the vendors you work with. Sometimes it’s easier for companies to give products/supplies vs. money.
• Ask your county fair committee if they would be willing to provide cups or a monetary donation.
• Consider a community cup drive, where community members drop cups off in the school parking lot on a pre-determined date and time.
For more information, contact ADA North East Director of Consumer Confidence Beth Meyer at bmeyer@milk4u.org.
To view additional tips on the ADANE website, please visit Tips to Support Schools During Milk Carton Shortage | American Dairy Association North East.