S5 Ep 7 - Dairy Grand Champion

Full cream, light, skim, homogenised, unhomogenised – milk takes many forms. But right now, a moment for the lactose free variety. Riverina Fresh's Lactose Free Milk has been crowned the best dairy product at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards. It is the dairy industry's highest honour. To learn more about what it takes to be the grand champion and some interesting observations about the impact of weight loss drugs on the future of the dairy industry, Executive Chairman of Riverina Fresh Craig Shapiro joins me now.    Craig celebrates Riverina Fresh winning Grand Champion Dairy Product for its lactose-free milk, explaining that adding lactase is a simple and natural process that makes it easier to digest.   Despite being lactose-free, the milk retains exceptional aroma, texture and body, and Craig notes it is one of the best milks for coffee.   Riverina Fresh is proudly based in Wagga Wagga with deep country roots, and its farmer-supplied, domestically focused model allows for strong quality control.   With over 100 years in business, Craig shares that lactose-free milk became important as part of bridging the gap between city consumers and understanding where their food comes from.   The award highlights a true Australian success story, with the product being 100% Australian to qualify.   Beyond taste, Craig emphasises that strong values like sustainability, ethics and animal welfare are central, with care extending from the farmers through to the final product.   He also discusses the emerging impact of weight loss drugs on food systems and the interesting flow-on effects within the dairy industry.   What Craig loves most about contributing to agriculture is that the more he learns, the more invested he becomes in sustainability and agrifood technology.   One of the most unexpected experiences has been travelling to America and seeing how deeply social media connects to the sale of produce.   Craig believes a common misconception isn't misunderstanding his role specifically, but rather a broader lack of awareness about where food comes from across agriculture.   His ultimate dream for the future is a sustainable dairy industry where farmers are paid fairly and appropriately.    We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.      Links:  Angie Asimus   Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram  Partnered with Australian Farmers   Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram   Riverina Fresh     Produced by Pretty Podcasts