Danone North America Pledges to Keep Farmers Farming and Provides Farm-Directed Donations of More Than $100,000

Dairy Leader Focuses on Current and Future Farmers with Farm Aid Support and HOPE Scholarship

BROOMFIELD, CO, September 18, 2019 – Danone North America, the purpose-driven food & beverage leader with a diverse portfolio of dairy and plant-based brands, is proud to continue its support of dairy farmers in 2019. On the heels of the annual Farm Aid festival, the company announced its contribution of more than $100,000, inclusive of an $80,000 donation to Farm Aid and a $30,000 company-created scholarship program, that will help keep current and future farmers farming, in addition to the company’s continued direct purchase of American-produced dairy.

Through its biggest organic dairy brand, Horizon Organic, Danone North America is celebrating its 16th year of support for the annual Farm Aid festival. This year, the company is donating $80,000 plus Horizon Organic products for the enjoyment of attendees at the Farm Aid festival, continuing to help advance the organization’s mission. Danone North America’s donation supports Farm Aid’s Farmer Hotline, logistics and funding for the Farm Aid festival and in-kind product donations for the festival’s catering services.

“Farm Aid and Danone North America have complementary missions, and both strongly support America’s network of family farmers,” said Steeve Yammine, who leads dairy purchasing for Danone North America. “We work with more than 700 family dairy farms across our organic and conventional dairy businesses to get the milk we need to create healthy and nutritious food for families. We’re proud to continue our support of Farm Aid and to celebrate their continued efforts to support the farming community.”

In addition to its financial support for existing organizations such as Farm Aid, Danone North America is also in its 12th year of the company-created HOPE Scholarship Program. The scholarships, based on the core values of Danone North America, encourage young, inspired scholars to pursue careers in organic or sustainable agriculture and/or large animal veterinary science. The scholarship recipients, nine of whom will receive a collective $30,000 in funds for 2019, are children or grandchildren of Danone North America’s robust network of family farmers.

This year’s HOPE Scholarship recipients are:

  • Nicholas Achen – Benton Group in OH
  • Alexis Allen – Allenville Farm in VT
  • Kristen Davis* – Silver Valley Farm in ME
  • Rachel DeLoye – DeLoye Jerseys in OH
  • Logan Ebbing* – Ebbing Dairy in OH
  • Maike Goltstein* – Union Go Dairy in IN
  • Shannon Good – Med-O-Bloom Farms in MI
  • Shila Hartzler – Pine Tree 511 Dairy in OH
  • Lucas Waugerman* – Fair Family Farms in PA

*past HOPE Scholarship recipient

“We believe in these inspirational young leaders who want to continue their family’s legacy of dairy farming,” said Yammine. “The HOPE Scholarship is a longstanding tradition for Danone North America and recognizes the importance of supporting our future farmer’s leadership development in key areas such as sustainable agriculture and large veterinary science – which continue to play a critical role for dairy farmers across the country.”

The HOPE Scholars are selected by a committee of organic and agricultural industry leaders, including leaders from Farm Aid, National Young Farmers Coalition, Organic Farming Research Center, Green America, Washington State University, Cornell University, Sustainable Food Lab, Independent Organic Inspectors Association and Edelman.

Over the past 12 years, the HOPE Scholarship Program has gifted nearly $160,000 to 55 college students pursuing a degree in agriculture and related fields. The scholarships started in 2007 when Horizon Organic became the first national organic dairy brand to offer a program focused on supporting the next generation of organic leaders. Since 2017, Danone North America has expanded the program to include both organic dairy and conventional dairy family farms, which supply raw milk for Danone North America’s portfolio of milk, creamer and yogurt-based products for brands such as Horizon Organic, Wallaby Organic, Dannon, Light & Fit, Activia, Oikos and more.

For more information about Danone North America, its family of dairy brands, and its support of dairy farmers, visit DanoneNorthAmerica.com.

About Danone North America:
Danone North America is purpose-driven company with a portfolio of dairy and plant-based foods. As the world’s largest Certified B Corporation®, Danone North America is committed to the creation of both economic and social value, while nurturing natural ecosystems through sustainable agriculture. Our portfolio of brands includes: Activia®, DanActive®, Danimals®, Dannon®, Good PlantsTM, Horizon Organic®, International Delight®, Light + Fit®, Oikos®, Silk®, So Delicious® Dairy Free, STōK®, Two GoodTM, Vega®, Wallaby® Organic and YoCrunch®. With more than 6,000 employees and 13 production locations across the U.S., our mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible. For more information, visit www.danonenorthamerica.com. For more information on Danone North America’s B Corp™ status, visit: https://bcorporation.net/directory/danone-north-america.

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PRESS CONTACT:
Nancy Fishgold, Senior Manager, External Communications for Danone North America
Nancy.Fishgold@danone.com
303-635-4518