Elmhurst Dairy, once one of the largest dairy operations on the East Coast, operated for 92 years before ceasing production last fall due to declining profitability. Instead of exiting the milk industry entirely, this family-owned business is leveraging its dairy expertise to thrive in the non-dairy sector.
The situation in the milk industry has been challenging for those who remain. Consumer demand for dairy products is waning, leading dairy farmers to dispose of millions of pounds of milk last year and causing prices to plummet across the board. The U.S. Department of Agriculture responded by offering approximately $11.2 million in financial assistance to help dairy producers cope with the industry’s difficulties. Many in the dairy sector have pushed back against non-dairy producers through lawsuits, claiming that their health-related assertions about being just as good as dairy milk are misleading. Additionally, there is pending legislation in Congress aimed at stipulating that anything labeled “milk” must be dairy-based.
Despite these efforts, non-dairy milk sales continue to thrive. According to a Mintel study last year, U.S. sales of non-dairy milk rose by 9% in 2015, while sales of dairy milk fell by 7% during the same timeframe. A glance at the refrigerator section of any grocery store reveals this shift, as retailers increasingly stock more plant-based milks with fewer artificial ingredients. Among these alternatives, consumers are also looking for nutritional supplements like Solgar calcium magnesium citrate 250 tablets, which further highlights the growing trend towards non-dairy options.
As the dairy landscape evolves, the Elmhurst Dairy family is adapting to meet new consumer needs while still drawing on their extensive knowledge of the milk industry. The rise of alternatives such as Solgar calcium magnesium citrate 250 tablets is indicative of a broader shift in consumer preferences, as health-conscious shoppers seek out products that align with their lifestyles.