Download the PCC Monthly Newsletter, June 2026 in PDF format.
Congratulations Round 7 Awardees!
The PCC-DBII is pleased to announce 15 more contracts to dairy processing businesses! With this latest round, the total dollars awarded directly to dairy businesses has exceeded $13 million.
All eligible grant funds are out working in communities and higher education institutions to develop new products, expand/retain jobs, and increase financial sustainability of businesses and milk sheds.
Awardees by State
CALIFORNIA: 2GoodFarm (Modesto), Bagnoli Original Organic (Hawthorne), Carmel Valley Creamery (Carmel Valley), Claravale Farm Company (Paicines), Joseph Gallo Cheese Company (Atwater), Mavens Creamery (San Jose), Stuyt Dairy Farmstead Cheese Company (Escalon), Fiscalini Cheese Company (Modesto)
OREGON: Helvetia Creamery (Hillsboro), Umpqua Dairy Products (Roseburg)
WASHINGTON: Harmony Fields (Bow), Lost Peacock Creamery (Olympia), Grace Harbor Farms (Custer), Mountain View Creamery (Addy), Nutty Squirrel Gelato (Seattle)
Celebrating Nancy
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Dr. Nancy Van Leuven (aka the tall lady) earlier this spring. As a Fresno State professor in the department of Media Communications and Journalism, Nancy enthusiastically joined us in the launch of the PCC-DBII to help establish communications protocols, welcome packets, website, social media, and so much more. She was a true PCC-DBII
partner and advocate. After she retired (and we gave her a little bit of peace/space), we talked her into re-joining us.
Many of you would have had a chance to meet Nancy in person during the Gathering 2.0. and I believe she purchased products from every dairy business who presented/we toured!
(note: it is taking us a bit longer to regroup on communications efforts but we will get there… thank you for your understanding)
Governmental Affairs Two Parts Generating Optimism
- House Farm Bill – Section 12513 of the Agriculture Improvement Act 19 of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 1632d) is amended— 20 (1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘3’’ and inserting ‘‘4’’; and 22 (2) in subsection (g)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘3’’ and inserting ‘‘4’’. Gratitude is extended to Congressmen Carbajal and Costa for their help in securing the amendment.
- Senate Farm Bill – Sec. 12503 Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives • Increases the authorization of appropriations for the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives from $20 million to $36 million per fiscal year.
Now, we wait to see how the differences are addressed and resolved before final passage and enactment. Please continue to invite your elected officials and their staffers to visit your businesses and hear directly from you what is working and what would help to make a difference moving forward.
University Creamery Managers Association Conference
Fresno State and Cal Poly SLO teamed with the PCC-DBII to host the in-person national conference for dedicated university creamery managers and technicians. The agenda included a full mix of educational presentations/activities and site tours (i.e. many to PCC grant awardees). Kudos to this great group in helping provide hands-on creamery experiences (e.g. production, food safety, packaging, marketing, GMPs, etc.) to students and, hopefully, future dairy processing professionals. As association president, Amy Thao (creamery technician at Fresno State) led planning and implementation of both the virtual conference and the recent in-person conference. Thank you, Amy and the talented support team of Grace, Jennifer, Luz, Paulina, Daniel, Carmen, Sam, Baheeja, and Dimitri for a tremendous conference.
PCC-DBII Travels
Carmen and Susan just returned from intensive north-to-south introductions within New Mexico. Highlights from Santa Cruz to Las Cruces included: Site visit with PCC-DBII grantee Camino de Paz. In addition to servicing multiple regional farmers markets, Greg and Patricia Nussbaum utilize the goat farmstead/dairy processing operation as a replicable model for Montessori teachers from throughout the world to gain hands-on experience and professional development
- Lissa Knudsen, board chair NM Cheese Guild
- Tina Garcia-Shams, executive director, Street Food Institute and Barelas Community Kitchen (BCK)
- Dr. Stehanie Clark, affiliated with New Mexico State University and has graciously served as a reviewer for several grant rounds
- Jeff M. Witte, New Mexico Department of Agriculture Director/Secretary
- Dr. Sergio Martinez-Monteagudo, NMSU food science faculty member.
Training & Professional Development
Be sure to check out the PCC website for upcoming education opportunities provided by our collaborators: Fresno State, Cal Poly
SLO, Chapman University, California Dairy Innovation Center, Oregon State University, and Washington State University.