MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle recently announced that six dairy processors will share $100,000 in grants to help them develop innovations that will advance Wisconsin's dairy revitalization efforts. The Value Added Dairy Initiative dairy processor grants will help develop green packaging and goat dairying efforts, among other innovations.
Fairplay Packaging LLC, Monroe, received a $17, 500 grant for researching and testing biodegradable packaging materials for cheese products. Fairplay Packaging is a new company that buys primarily Wisconsin cheese. It is diversifying its offerings for cutting and packaging and is planning to trial and test market new cheese types and varieties, such as probiotic cheese.
Wisconsin's dairy industry generates $20 billion each year, accounting for many jobs and a large portion of the state's export market. The grants are part of the Value Added Dairy Initiative (VADI) Year 5 program funding, which Sen. Herb Kohl and Rep. Dave Obey helped secure to support Wisconsin's dairy industry.
"Agriculture is one of the cornerstones of our economy and Wisconsin must continue to aggressively position ourselves to upgrade our signature dairy industry and make it more innovative," Governor Doyle said. "I am pleased the state is supporting our innovative dairy producers to ensure dairy defines not only our past, but our future as well."
Fairplay Packaging LLC, Monroe, received a $17, 500 grant for researching and testing biodegradable packaging materials for cheese products. Fairplay Packaging is a new company that buys primarily Wisconsin cheese. It is diversifying its offerings for cutting and packaging and is planning to trial and test market new cheese types and varieties, such as probiotic cheese.
Wisconsin's dairy industry generates $20 billion each year, accounting for many jobs and a large portion of the state's export market. The grants are part of the Value Added Dairy Initiative (VADI) Year 5 program funding, which Sen. Herb Kohl and Rep. Dave Obey helped secure to support Wisconsin's dairy industry.
"Agriculture is one of the cornerstones of our economy and Wisconsin must continue to aggressively position ourselves to upgrade our signature dairy industry and make it more innovative," Governor Doyle said. "I am pleased the state is supporting our innovative dairy producers to ensure dairy defines not only our past, but our future as well."