At Dairy MAX, we know that dairy farmers are the backbone of our communities, which is why we’re excited to share a new program that will maintain and build dairy demand more efficiently, while ensuring our neighbors have the high-quality nutrition to thrive.
Introducing Single Stop: An Evolution to Our Food Security Work
Dairy MAX has launched a new tool through Single Stop to expand dairy access. Single Stop is a national nonprofit that uses artificial intelligence to connect community members to essential public benefits like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children). These programs are critical pathways to nutritious food, including dairy foods and beverages. Yet, millions of eligible families remain unenrolled due to barriers like lack of awareness, complex application processes or stigma.
Single Stop simplifies the SNAP and WIC application process by offering a centralized digital platform that screens users for more than 20 federal, state and local benefits in just minutes. Whether accessed from your phone at home, or in schools, food banks or retail settings, the tool provides a user-friendly experience that helps families discover what support they qualify for and how to claim it.
Why Single Stop Matters to Dairy Farmers
Our Single Stop program is focused on growing demand for dairy in a sustainable, impactful way while helping our neighbors when they need it most. In the Dairy MAX region alone, a 1% increase in SNAP/WIC participation could generate up to $141 million in additional dairy sales annually. That means this tool is dual purpose: a direct, trackable impact for dairy farm families like you, and a meaningful boost for the communities you call home.
By connecting more families to nutrition assistance, we’re ensuring that dairy remains a staple in their diets and grocery carts, like the milk in their morning cereal, the cheese in their favorite dinner and that healthful bowl of yogurt as a snack. This initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to bring the joy and power of dairy to everyone to create a stronger, healthier tomorrow.
Further, the Single Stop tool is a great example of how the Dairy MAX team looks for ways to make your dollars go further. Our past nutrition access initiatives tended to be more labor-intensive with limited results. This evolution allows technology and our partners to do the heavy lifting for us, ensuring we improve our impact for dairy farm families like you.
How It Works: Simple, Smart & Scalable
The Single Stop platform is designed for ease and flexibility with a do-it-yourself interface. Individuals enter their own information in a quick and confidential online screener, with support available if needed.
All it takes is a scan of a QR code, which Dairy MAX provides to schools, retailers and nonprofits. From there, users enter basic information like household size, income and ZIP code. The platform then generates a comprehensive overview of all the benefits they may qualify for, complete with estimated monthly values.
This one-stop-shop approach removes barriers and empowers families to sign up for programs like SNAP and WIC. And for our partners, it offers useful reporting, demographic insights and outcome tracking, making it easy to measure impact and streamline outreach to those who may be eligible for assistance.
Real Impact, Real Stories
In 2024 along, Single Stop connected more than 80,000 individuals to $658 million in benefits nationwide. Dairy MAX’s newly-launched program landing page will benefit from that momentum while offering more opportunities to showcase the benefits of dairy in a credible and authentic way. That won’t just mean numbers, it’ll be families who now have access to the high-quality nutrition of dairy to support their growth, health and well-being.
In schools, the tool is helping identify students whose families qualify for assistance but haven’t enrolled. In retail settings, it’s being used to engage shoppers and drive redemption of the dairy-inclusive benefits already in place with programs like SNAP. And in food banks, its helping volunteers guide clients toward long-term support rather than just short-term relief.
A Strategic Use of Checkoff Dollars
At Dairy MAX, we are constantly evaluating current programs and new opportunities to determine what will have the biggest impact on dairy demand and your bottom line, and that’s why Single Stop is the future of our nutrition access initiatives. Here’s what makes the Single Stop a standout example of strategic spending:
- It drives demand: By increasing participation in SNAP and WIC, we’re boosting dairy sales through public nutrition programs that serve one in eight people within the U.S.
- It supports equity: Families in underserved communities gain access to the nutrition they need and deserve, including dairy foods and beverages that provide high-quality protein and 13 essential nutrients.
- It builds trust: We’re showing our neighbors that dairy farm families and the rest of the dairy community care about their well-being and that we’re part of the solution.
- It delivers measurable results: With built-in analytics and reporting, we can track outcomes and refine our approach.
How You Can Help
Here’s how you can amplify our efforts in the SNAP and WIC space while helping your local community:
- Share the QR code: If you have local connections with schools, retailers or nonprofits, encourage them to use the tool. Dairy MAX can provide materials and support to help you share this new program in your community.
- Spread the word: Talk to your community organizations about how dairy foods and beverages are part of the solution to food insecurity in your area.
Looking Ahead: Innovation with Purpose
The Single Stop tool is just one example of how Dairy MAX is implementing new and innovative initiatives to serve both our farmers and our communities. It reflects our core values and our commitment to building a future where dairy is the choice that nourishes every life.
As we continue to invest in programs that grow demand, build trust and improve access, you can feel confident that your checkoff dollars are making a difference in both sales and quality of life in your community.
