Organization Spotlight: American Dairy Products Institute
The American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) is an organization with almost as many layers as the dairy industry itself. Formed as a national trade association representing the processed dairy products industry, ADPI is actually a hybrid that developed when multiple separate organizations merged together.
The ADPI name was officially adopted in April 1986 when the then 61-year-old American Dry Milk Institute (ADMI) merged with the 15-year-old Whey Products Institute (WPI). The Evaporated Milk Association, which was formed in 1923, joined the fold in 1997, the same year a separate cheese division was established. Today ADPI is the leading association for manufactured dairy products.
ADPI’s main purpose is to promote the acceptance and use of processed dairy products, both nationally and internationally, by communicating the many positive health and nutritional attributes of milk-derived products. Additionally, ADPI serves its membership by
- representing the industry’s interest in government and regulatory affairs,
- establishing key product standards, some of which have been adopted as federal standards of identity,
- providing technical assistance and marketing support,
- collecting and disseminating key production and utilization statistics,
- providing input on industry standards for certain dairy processing equipment,
- monitoring and delivering current dairy industry information and developments,
- collaborating with other dairy associations on issues of common interest
- promoting the dairy products processing industry and its products through relations with affiliated industry organizations and applicable government bodies, and
- providing a strong, effective voice for the processed dairy products industry and promoting the awareness and consumption of nutritional processed dairy products.
- establishing key product standards, some of which have been adopted as federal standards of identity,
- providing technical assistance and marketing support,
- collecting and disseminating key production and utilization statistics,
- providing input on industry standards for certain dairy processing equipment,
- monitoring and delivering current dairy industry information and developments,
- collaborating with other dairy associations on issues of common interest
- promoting the dairy products processing industry and its products through relations with affiliated industry organizations and applicable government bodies, and
- providing a strong, effective voice for the processed dairy products industry and promoting the awareness and consumption of nutritional processed dairy products.
Services
One of the primary services provided to ADPI members is research and coordination of statistical information, including:
- Total production and commercial sales of nonfat dry milk (NDM)
- Production of whey and modified whey products
- Monthly cheese production
- Statistical analysis
- U.S. cheese imports
- Government purchases of NDM
- Government purchases of cheese
- Dairy Export Incentive Program
- Production of whey and modified whey products
- Monthly cheese production
- Statistical analysis
- U.S. cheese imports
- Government purchases of NDM
- Government purchases of cheese
- Dairy Export Incentive Program
ADPI is the only industry organization to produce an annual census of end-use markets for dry milk and whey – an important tool for marketing of these products domestically and abroad.
The organization heavily recruits industry leaders to lend their knowledge, expertise and guidance to standing committees on topics such as dairy products marketing, evaporated milks, lactose and sanitary standards.
Currently, ADPI’s membership includes manufacturers of evaporated and condensed milk, dry milk, cheese and whey products; firms that provide supplies and services to processors; and many companies that either use or trade these manufactured dairy products or are otherwise involved in the dairy industry. While the majority of ADPI members are located in the U.S., the organization also represents many international members.
Each year, ADPI partners with the American Butter Institute for a joint annual conference for more than 700 manufacturers, marketers and suppliers of manufactured dairy products. The 2009 conference will be held April 26-28 in Chicago. Additional information about the conference and ADPI are available at www.adpi.org.
