The Nova Scotia School Milk Program, which began in 1974, is designed to increase the availability and consumption of milk in Nova Scotia schools. The program allows milk, which is consumed by students on school premises, to be provided at a reduced cost. Students from grades primary through twelve enjoy nutrition and health benefits under the Program.

The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Fisheries pays the school's servicing dairy the difference between the wholesale selling price and the school milk price for unflavoured milk.With the school, parents and the agricultural industry's support we continue to encourage good nutritional habits.

Program Guidelines at a Glance...

• All public schools (grades primary to twelve) affiliated with the Nova Scotia Department of Education are eligible under the School Milk Program.
  
• Eligible schools registered under the Program must agree to provide students with milk at a cost not greater than 35 cents per 250 mL serving.
  
• The delivery of milk under the program applies to unflavoured milk sales consumed by students on school premises.
  
• Schools may designate a sponsor (i.e. community agency, caterer) to administer the Program at the time of registration, which is in May or June of each year.
  
• The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Fisheries conducts random audits of dairy and school delivery records and receipts.
  

Some Program Stats...

• Each year, over 90 per cent of Nova Scotia's schools participate in the School Milk Program. Thus over 160,000 students are able to buy nutritious milk in their school at a much-reduced price.
  
• Over 80 per cent of the sales under the Program are 2% milk but in many schools students are also given the choice of buying skim, homo, or 1% white milk.
  
• The Nova Scotia School Milk Program represents approximately two per cent of provincial white milk sales.
  

The success of the Nova Scotia School Milk Program is achieved through the commitment and support by teachers, principals and school volunteers.

The dairies in Nova Scotia support the Nova Scotia School Milk Program by providing refrigeration in some schools and by their committment to province-wide distribution. They have held the wholesale delivered price on the 250 mL carton for several years.

The Nova Scotia dairy industry, through Dairy Farmers of Canada — Maritimes, supports the Program in the schools through the delivery of nutrition programs. To inquire about the availability, please contact Dairy Farmers of Canada — Maritimes at:

70 King Street, Suite A
Moncton, NB E1C 4M6
Phone: 1-800-465-2697 Fax: 506-855-8500.

For more information contact:

Quotes about our Program from satisfied schools:

• "A valuable program."
  (Harbourside Elementary, Halifax Co.)

• "Very well received. We include a milk with our dinners so consumption is not a problem with our students. We only serve a small selection of juices in addition to milk."
  (Cabot Jr/Sr High, Victoria county)

• It's a great Program! Without it, I know a lot of students would not be getting their daily requirement. Keep it up!"
  (Liverpool Regional High, Queens Co.)

• "Our milk consumption is up and our other drinks (pop) are down".
  (South Queens Jr. High)

• "We enjoy your program and our milk sales go up."
  (Baddeck Academy, Victoria Co.)

• "This is a great help to our cafeteria and ensure that children get milk daily who may otherwise not be able to afford this. Many thanks."
  (West Colchester Consolidated)

• "Some children only drink milk at school, therefore I am very grateful for this service since I feel they may not if this service was not provided. Sincere thanks."
  (Ecole Pomquet, Antigonish Co.)

• "I think it is great and we really push it as something very important for our students."
  (West Pictou High)

• "Very pleased with your program."
  (Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea Elementary, Halifax County)