WASHINGTON, D.C. — As June Dairy Month got underway last week, the National School Lunch Program celebrated its 80th anniversary June 4th, the day that House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-Pa.) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) introduced the FRESH Act to help schools purchase bulk milk dispensers and/or other refrigeration equipment to serve fresh, cold whole milk to students while reducing waste and costs.

The Funding Refrigeration Equipment for Student Health (FRESH) Act would establish a $4 million annual competitive grant program over the next four years (2027-31) through USDA to help K-12 schools purchase and install the equipment. Schools would be eligible for grants covering up to 75% of project costs, helping overcome some barriers some districts face as they consider expanding milk options to implement whole milk now that the USDA has issued guidance for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act across all school meals and all federal child nutrition programs.

Supporters see the benefits for schools, especially where the whole milk option is not readily available in 8-ounce packages or at a reasonable cost, depending on vendor willingness.

“Milk is a vital building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, providing 13 essential nutrients that supplement growth and health, which help students thrive in the classroom,” Thompson stated in a press release after introducing the bill, which has not yet been assigned a number. “The bipartisan FRESH Act will give schools the opportunity to invest in milk dispensers and the refrigeration needed to ensure they can readily supply milk to students throughout the year.”

Courtney, who has partnered with Thompson on school milk legislation for years, emphasized both nutrition and support for dairy farmers. “Milk is at the foundation of a nutritious school meal,” he noted. “By supporting schools’ purchase of milk dispensers and cold storage equipment, we can provide more students with dairy options. This is an investment to build stronger relationships between our schools and our dairy farms, supporting students’ health and their learning.”

The introduction of the FRESH Act follows observations Thompson made in March during a meeting of 97 MILK in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. At that gathering, participants highlighted milk dispensers as a practical solution to several challenges now that whole milk is allowed at school after more than a 15 year prohibition. Grant opportunities in the FRESH Act include other types of refrigeration as well, including mobile refrigerated carts that take ice cold milk and other breakfast foods to classrooms.

The FRESH Act injects additional excitement around new milk choices at school.

Supporters say milk dispensers inject additional interest in new milk choices at school and can improve consumption and meal participation, reduce waste, lower costs, and provide students with a fresher product.

Learning recently that Ephrata area school district is one of only a handful of milk dispensers in Pennsylvania schools, Farmshine contacted food service director Terri Gamez. She said the equipment at the high school was implemented through a Chef Anne grant two years ago and has “definitely been a beneficial addition because there’s nothing like that ice-cold milk going into a glass.”

It also allowed her to bring whole milk in more quickly after the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act was signed into law. Their milk vendor did not have whole milk available in the 8 ounce plastic bottles, and Gamez did not want to go back to cartons. The dispenser was being used only for chocolate milk at the time so they could more easily get the 1% flavored milk in bulk instead of fat-free flavored in the 8-ounce bottles. The dispensers gave her greater flexibility to meet student preferences for whole milk and the higher-fat flavored milk. (More on this in a future Farmshine.)

In a recent phone interview, she said she surveyed students about which milkfat level they would choose if given the option and was surprised by the response: “The majority came back saying ‘whole,’ so I thought, ‘well, let me get some whole white milk and put it in my dispenser!’” Once whole white milk became available in the dispenser alongside the 1% chocolate, she reported that students were choosing it more often than when 1% white milk was previously offered.

Those experiences mirror results seen elsewhere, particularly in the Southeast, where milk dispensers have gained significant popularity in recent years. School districts there report increased milk consumption and meal participation, reduced waste, and strong student acceptance. The model has expanded rapidly through grants in states like Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, and Kentucky as schools prepared for the return of whole milk.

The Thompson-Courtney FRESH Act has quickly drawn support from dairy and agricultural organizations.

“Whole milk is back, and the volunteers of 97 MILK appreciate Congressman Glenn Thompson’s effort to help schools make the transition while encouraging students to love milk again,” said G.N. Hursh, chairman of 97 MILK. “Our mission is whole milk education, and we look forward to helping students and their families rediscover whole milk and the benefits it naturally provides.”

“The FRESH Act is an important step to restore nutritious, delicious, cold, farm-fresh whole milk for schoolchildren,” added Bernie Morrissey, chairman of the Grassroots PA Dairy Advisory Committee. “Refrigerated milk dispensers demonstrate the ability to attract students’ interest, improve taste, reduce waste, lower costs, and avoid packaging disruptions. We thank Congressman Thompson for his dedication to student nutrition and the dairy farmers and industry working every day to provide it.”

“Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is proud to support it,” said PFB President Chris Hoffman.

Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation called it an investment in the health, development and success of the next generation. “Dairy farmers witness firsthand the care and nutrition that go into every glass,” he said.

Support also came from the International Dairy Foods Association as CEO Dr. Michael Dykes highlighted the important role milk has in helping students grow and learn, noting “the FRESH Act provides schools with practical resources to invest in refrigeration and dispensing equipment that can expand student access and strengthen school meal programs.”

American Dairy Coalition president Walt Moore weighed in too. “We applaud Congressman Thompson’s FRESH Act to help schools successfully reintroduce whole unflavored and flavored milk for breakfast and lunch as USDA implements the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act,” he said.

While Whole Milk for Healthy Kids expanded the milk options schools may serve, the FRESH Act at the federal level and other grant programs at state levels would help schools actually overcome some supply chain challenges and improve access.

Dairy farmers and milk advocates are urged to contact their Representative in the U.S. Congress to cosponsor the Thompson-Courtney Funding Refrigeration Equipment for Student Health (FRESH) Act! Stay tuned for a bill number when it becomes available.