Queens and Staten Island merged with New York City. The Bronx Zoo opened. The inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, was coaching Kansas University’s new basketball team. The Spanish-American War peace treaty was ratified. Voting machines were approved for federal elections. Ohio Republican William McKinley was president.

Fred Astaire, Alfred Hitchcock, Duke Ellington, James Cagney and Al Capone were all born. Babe Ruth, the "Sultan of Swat," was just a 4-year-old child.

We are referring to 1899, when Dairy Foods (via its predecessor Dairy Record) was established. Although we believe Dairy Record was first published in 1899, no copies of the first issue are known to exist. In fact, the 16th issue, published on August 21, 1900, is the earliest issue still in existence.

In 1900, Dairy Record spanned 12 pages, common for the time period. On the first page of that issue in the news section, under a section called “Creamery Notes,” Dairy Record reports: “The Medford Creamery Assn. shipped 2,375 pounds of butter this week to New York. The Champeny, S.D., creamery paid 16 cents per pound for July butter.”

We know 1899 was the first publication because of a 25th anniversary issue printed in 1924. In this issue, Otto Frederick Hunziker, considered a pioneer in the American and international dairy industry, wrote that “During these many years of activities, the Dairy Record has stood for those great fundamentals that make for the constructive building up of the butter-making industry. It has always stood for the principles that underlie and stimulate economy of production and high quality of the product…unflinching stand on the right side of every big issue and of every important question confronting the dairy industry. It has proven to be an organ instilled with the courage of its convictions.”

In January 1986, Dairy Record changed its name to the current Dairy Foods moniker. The reason for this change was to “record less of what has gone by and project more of what is to come,” according to an editorial by Jerry Dryer.

Twenty-five years ago, Dairy Foods “partied like it is 1999” with a big celebration in honor of its 100th anniversary. At that time, Chief Editor Dave Fusaro wrote: “It is our sincere hope that the above can still be said about Dairy Foods and will continue to be said as we start our second 100 years.”

The 100th anniversary issue also named five members to “Dairy’s Hall of Fame.” Honored were J.L. Kraft, H.P. Hood, Sam Dean, Gail Borden and John Brandt, with Dairy Foods stating, “Passion, pluck and personality were shared by [these] dairy founders.”

Today, we laud and honor 125 years of Dairy Foods. Now, we can say, “Here’s to the next 125 years of Dairy Foods.” We look forward to that retrospective in 2149.

Quasquicentennial

Dairy Foods reached out to several industry associations who we work with to get their reaction about our quasquicentennial. Here are some responses we received:

“Dairy Foods magazine has played a pivotal role in chronicling the evolution of the dairy industry, serving as an essential resource for 125 years. It has illuminated crucial developments, from the adoption of pasteurization to automation, and the growing field of dairy nutrition and food science. Dairy Foods has truly shaped progress in a sector that continues to evolve with changing consumer wants and needs.” —Geri Berdak, CEO, The Dairy Alliance.

“Congratulations, Dairy Foods, on 125 years of delivering timely, valuable news and information on the dairy industry. PMMI has enjoyed contributing to the many articles you’ve published, keeping the industry updated on the latest in dairy packaging and processing. We also appreciate your support over the years of our PACK EXPO shows. The dairy industry has seen vast amounts of change in 125 years, and we’ll continue to look at you as a valued source of information for trends, innovation and insights.” —Tom Egan, vice president of Industry Services for PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.

“Congratulations to Dairy Foods magazine on 125 years of continuous publication! For more than a century, Dairy Foods has been a trusted resource, chronicling the evolution and innovation within the dairy industry. The magazine has provided invaluable insight into groundbreaking moments, from advancements in dairy processing and sustainability, to shifts in consumer preferences and nutrition. In doing so, it has played a crucial role in shaping and sharing the industry's rich history. The International Dairy Foods Association is proud to celebrate this milestone and looks forward to many more years of partnership and progress with Dairy Foods.” —Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO, International Dairy Foods Association.

125 years of dairy history

To honor this golden and silver (the celebration of a quasquicentennial) anniversary, we take a look a timeline of the dairy industry’s history, as chronicled in Dairy Foods. Please note this is a brief history and only represents some key moments during the past 125 years.

This will be followed by some classic photos from suppliers who have served the dairy industry. We hope you enjoy this retrospective.

The U.S. Dairy Industry is bracing for change in the coming years with the rate of consolidation likely increasing for both farms and dairy plants.

Domestic demand trends are positive with solid growth prospects for butter, cheese and whole milk. Exports of cheese and whey products are expected to have the highest growth potential. DF