Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board

What Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board does

The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board (MDPB) is a state-government promotional entity established in 2008 under the Massachusetts Dairy Farm Preservation Act and operating under the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). Its mandate is to promote Massachusetts dairy products and increase dairy consumption through promotion, education, and research, funded by assessments on the state's dairy farmers. The board comprises nine members representing dairy farms and dairy-related businesses across Massachusetts (Chair/Commissioner, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and five Board Members), with day-to-day operations run by an MDAR-employed Coordinator.

MDPB's deliverables are non-commercial: it operates the massdairy.com website featuring recipes, farm profiles, cow-care content, and a farm-finder tool; runs consumer education campaigns leveraging National Dairy Council / 3-Every-Day of Dairy nutrition messaging; partners on the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail; and supports farm-store and CSA channels. It does not sell products or technology. Revenue mechanics are statutory check-off assessments collected from Massachusetts dairy farmers under the Dairy Farm Preservation Act, with no disclosed pricing, transaction volumes, or product revenue.

Its member farms distribute milk through regional wholesale channels (most prominently the Agri-Mark/Cabot Cooperative pooling system spanning New England) and direct farm stores; MDPB's role is upstream brand and demand-building rather than supply-chain coordination. Leadership is dual-hatted: the MDAR Commissioner serves as MDPB Chair, and member farms are multi-generational family operations providing brand authenticity that the board amplifies.

Name

Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board

Legal name

Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board

Website

https://massdairy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board is a state-government check-off entity established in 2008 under the Dairy Farm Preservation Act that promotes Massachusetts dairy products through education, outreach, and research, funded by assessments on the state's dairy farmers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Commodity Promotion

NAICS

Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (11212), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (112120)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Milking Parlor & Dairy Farm Support Services (Non-veterinary) (AFAEALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dairy Alternatives (Plant-Based Milk, Yogurt, Creamers) (CRADACAF)

Keywords

• Dairy promotion
• Dairy education
• Agricultural advocacy
• Commodity checkoff programs
• Local farm marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Dairy Farm Assessment/Fees: Funded by Massachusetts dairy farmers through the Dairy Farm Preservation Act. The board uses these funds to promote Massachusetts dairy products in the marketplace through promotion, education and research initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board is a state-mandated commodity promotion board that promotes Massachusetts dairy products through consumer education, marketing outreach, and dairy nutrition research. It is funded by assessments on Massachusetts dairy farmers under the Dairy Farm Preservation Act and delivers its mission via the massdairy.com website, dairy farm locator, recipes, the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail, social media, and partnerships with organizations such as the National Dairy Council and the Agri-Mark/Cabot Cooperative.

Product overview

The Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board operates a promotional and informational website (massdairy.com) rather than a commercial product. The site serves as an educational resource featuring dairy recipes, dairy farm information, cow care practices, farmer profiles, and nutritional information about dairy products. The Board is funded by Massachusetts dairy farmers under the Dairy Farm Preservation Act to promote Massachusetts dairy products. The website does not offer a commercial product or software platform but instead provides informational content about dairy farming, recipes, farm locations, and dairy industry education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Massachusetts Dairy Promotion, Education & Research Services State-mandated dairy promotion, consumer education, and research services funded by Massachusetts dairy farmer assessments under the Dairy Farm Preservation Act, designed to increase consumption of Massachusetts dairy products.
• Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail Tourism initiative showcasing dairy farms across Massachusetts that produce ice cream, helping consumers discover and visit local dairy farms.
• Massachusetts Dairy Farm Locator Online map/directory tool that allows consumers to find Massachusetts dairy farms offering farm stores, milk, cheese, and ice cream.
• Dairy Recipe & Nutrition Content Library Collection of dairy-based recipes with nutritional facts and dairy health-benefit content, sourced in part from the National Dairy Council's 3-Every-Day™ of Dairy program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Daily milk pickup and delivery to local dairy processors ensures freshness
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Agri-Mark/Cabot CooperativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple Massachusetts dairy farms (Hanson Farm, Luther Belden Farm, Herrick Dairy Farm, Whittier Farms) are members of the Agri-Mark/Cabot Cooperative. The cooperative pools milk from member farms and distributes dairy products including Cabot Creamery cheese regionally.
• National Dairy CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipes on the MDPB website are credited to National Dairy Council and 3-Every-Day™ of Dairy. The board references National Dairy Council resources for consumer education about dairy health benefits.
• Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDPB operates under MDAR oversight. The board's Coordinator position works for MDAR. The Commissioner of MDAR serves as Chair of MDPB. Board was formed as a result of the Dairy Farm Preservation Act under MDAR.
• Massachusetts Association for Dairy FarmerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMapleline Farm is listed as a member of the Massachusetts Association for Dairy Farmers, which supports the dairy promotion ecosystem in the state.
• Holstein Association USAsupportingOthersMelissa Griffin's herd at Clessons River Farm received the Progressive Breeders Registry Award from Holstein Association USA. Luther Belden Farm has been recognized through Holstein herd management.
• American Jersey Cattle AssociationsupportingOthersMapleline Farm is an active member of the American Jersey Cattle Association. Mapleline raises registered Jersey cows known for rich, nutrient-dense milk.
• Must Be The MilksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMust Be The Milk is a related initiative that educates people about dairy farming, promotes purchase of milk and dairy products, and raises funds for New England and New York's dairy farmers.
• Massachusetts Ice Cream TrailsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMDPB partners with Massachusetts to promote the Ice Cream Trail, a tourist initiative showcasing dairy farms with ice cream across the state.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• New England Dairy: Regional dairy promotion organization covering the same New England footprint that MDPB references in its milk-pooling narrative. Directly comparable non-profit checkoff-style model promoting local dairy to consumers.
• American Dairy Association Northeast: Regional dairy promotion/checkoff organization serving the Northeast U.S., including Massachusetts. Operates a near-identical farmer-funded consumer education and promotion model.

Emerging players

• Massachusetts Association for Dairy Farmers: Massachusetts-based dairy farmer advocacy group referenced by MDPB member farms (e.g., Mapleline). Operates in the same state-level dairy promotion and policy ecosystem.
• Northeast Dairy Producers Association: Regional dairy producers' advocacy and promotion organization in the Northeast; MDPB's Chair previously served as NEDPA's Member Services Director, reflecting close operating overlap.
• Must Be The Milk: Regional initiative that educates consumers about dairy farming and raises funds for New England and New York dairy farmers. Directly comparable community/promotion mission and overlapping geography.

Regional players

• Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (Dairy Section): State-government dairy promotion and farm-support function in neighboring Vermont. Comparable institutional structure as a state-level dairy support entity operating in the same regional milk pool MDPB references.
• HP Hood LLC: Major Northeast dairy processor represented on MDPB's board (Lynne Bohan). Comparable as a Massachusetts-based dairy industry participant whose brand benefits from MDPB's promotional activities.
• Agri-Mark / Cabot Creamery Cooperative: Dairy cooperative whose member farms (Hanson, Luther Belden, Herrick, Whittier) sit on MDPB's board. Operates in the same Massachusetts/New England geography and shares the regional milk-pooling model MDPB promotes.

Broad incumbents

• Dairy Management Inc. National dairy checkoff organization that manages farmer-funded promotion, research, and nutrition education across the U.S. MDPB participates in this national ecosystem via National Dairy Council recipes and 3-Every-Day™ of Dairy content.
• National Dairy Council: National nutrition education and dairy promotion organization. MDPB explicitly credits National Dairy Council content (recipes, health research) and acts as a state-level distribution arm for NDC's educational assets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MADPB

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board