Fresno State will receive a $690,000 federal grant that the university will use to help dairy farmers develop high-value products such as artisanal cheeses and organic products.

The award by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced last week by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, is intended to support dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products.

California is the nation’s No. 1 state for dairy production and produces 20% of the nation’s supply.

The grant award is appropriate considering California’s role as the nation’s top dairy production state, Costa said.

“Fresno State continues to grow the next generation of innovative dairymen and women,” he said in a news release. “This funding initiative fortifies the California dairy market and boosts research needs on the ground, which enhances educational pathways for students aspiring to thrive in the dairy industry. It’s an investment in the future of agriculture and California dairy.”

West Coast Dairy Coalition Formed

In 2022, the university began a partnership with the California Dairy Innovation Center to create a “Pacific Coast Coalition” to support dairy businesses in California, Oregon, and Washington. The coalition’s workforce training program ensures dairy businesses can remain competitive and allows producers to diversify markets. Fresno State has received $20 million from the USDA for this initiative.

“With support from the Pacific Coast Coalition, led by Fresno State, this federal funding enables our team of researchers, staff, and students to collaborate directly with the dairy industry to enhance dairy product processing and deliver cutting-edge training to professionals across the dairy sectors in California, Oregon, Washington, and New Mexico,” Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, dean of Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Science and Technology, said in a news release.