By Sherman Smith
Tribune News Service
TOPEKA — Dairy producers, forced to dump milk as the shuttering of schools and restaurants disrupts the supply chain, want grocers to stop exacerbating the problem by limiting sales.
National, regional and state organizations say they have plenty of milk to meet the needs of families and expressed disappointment in stores that refuse to sell more than one or two cartons of milk to individual customers.
“There is a huge problem with retailers restricting the amount of milk that consumers can purchase,” the Kansas Dairy Association said in a statement. “We think that these signs being posted at the dairy case are a result of trying to stop hoarding of food. These signs are misleading to the consumer and lead them to believe there is a shortage. We all know that cows will keep producing, we just need to work harder to get the product to our consumers.”
Dairy Farmers of America said it has assured retailers there is no shortage of fluid milk.
“If you experience stores limiting the amount of dairy shoppers may purchase, ask to speak with a manager to express your disappointment,” the organization advised.
As the spread of COVID-19 upended daily lives, retailers limited sales of milk and other necessities to mitigate a panic-driven impulse to hoard.
Meanwhile, the Kansas Dairy Association said, demand for milk was altered by the closing of public schools and restaurants, which led cooperatives to direct farmers to dispose of milk. The organization said about 10% of some loads of milk currently are being dumped.
“Hopefully, the message will be relayed and our wonderful dairy products will (be) distributed to the people who love and enjoy them,” the Kansas Dairy Association said. “Please reassure your friends and family that at this point, dairy is not in danger.”
An executive order by Gov. Laura Kelly requires Kansans to stay at home except for essential services and needs. Health officials have recorded 25 deaths and 845 infections from the coronavirus.
Responding to concerns raised by dairy producers, prominent retailers in Kansas either stopped restricting milk sales or only apply restrictions to curbside pickups.
Sheila Lowrie, a spokeswoman for Kroger, the parent company of Dillons stores, said the grocer removed limitations on milk sales last week.
Christina Gayman, a spokeswoman for Hy-Vee, said the grocer isn’t limiting milk sales. Walmart has a more nuanced approach. The retailer has limited key items that customers need, including milk, eggs, cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer, according to information provided by Delia Garcia, a spokeswoman for Walmart.
Walmart shifted positions two weeks ago and now is advising managers to re-evaluate limits on in-store purchases of milk, but still allows stores to maintain restrictions if supplies run low.
Additionally, the restrictions on online orders for pickup have increased from two to four units of milk. Midwest Dairy, which represents 6,500 farms in Kansas and other area states, is reaching out to retailers and grocery associations to ask for the removal of limits on milk and dairy purchases, said communications specialist Jennifer Voegele.
Now that the initial rush related to COVID-19 has passed, she said, the dairy industry is confident the supply can meet customer demand.
“We are living in unprecedented times, and dairy farmers throughout the Midwest are continuing to work tirelessly to produce milk that consumers need for their health and their families,” Voegele said.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran has co-signed a letter formally asking President Donald Trump to supply first responders with necessary personal protective equipment. The Kansas Republican joined three Republican and seven Democratic senators in asking the president to support firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical services personnel who are vulnerable to being exposed to COVID-19.
Kansas, and every other state, is struggling to meet the demands for protective equipment amid a shortage of supplies and skyrocketing private market prices.
The senators urged Trump “to lead a strong, coordinated federal effort to support our first responders and address this national shortage.”
“While first responders will not stop in their mission to protect us, we must uphold our end of the bargain to protect them and their families,” the senators wrote. “Without aggressive federal action, we risk leaving first responders across the country without the tools and equipment they need to keep both themselves and our communities safe during this crisis.”