The Dairy Alliance spotlights dairy in Hispanic Heritage Month foods

The Dairy Alliance is marking Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15, by highlighting how real dairy shows up in Hispanic and Latin American foods across the Southeast. The campaign connects dairy-rich dishes like café con leche, queso fresco, pupusas and tres leches cake to family traditions, culture and regional foodways.

Why it matters: - The Dairy Alliance is tying real dairy to Hispanic Heritage Month in a region where Hispanic and Latin American food traditions are part of everyday life. - The campaign frames dairy as part of family recipes, celebrations and shared cultural memory across the Southeast. - The effort reaches communities in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

What happened: - The Dairy Alliance began a Hispanic Heritage Month message on Sept. 15. - The organization highlighted the role of milk, cheese, yogurt and cream in Hispanic and Latin American dishes and drinks. - Farrah Newberry, CEO of the Dairy Alliance, said the Southeast’s Hispanic communities enrich the region every day and that the organization is proud to celebrate real dairy’s role in cherished recipes and the connections they create.

The details: - Café con leche is presented as a common morning drink made with strong brewed coffee or espresso, hot whole milk and optional sugar. - The suggested recipe calls for ½ cup coffee or espresso, ½ cup steamed or hot whole milk, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar if desired. - Queso fresco is described as a mild, creamy fresh cheese used in beans, soups, tortillas and other savory dishes. - The serving suggestion pairs crumbled queso fresco with beans, soups, tacos, enchiladas and 2 tablespoons of Mexican crema. - Pupusas con queso are described as handmade corn tortillas from El Salvador filled with cheese and cooked on a griddle. - The recipe calls for 2 cups masa harina, 1⅓ cups warm water, a pinch of salt and about 2 tablespoons of quesillo for each of eight pupusas. - The instructions say to cook the pupusas on a lightly greased griddle for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden and the cheese melts. - Tres leches cake is described as a Latin American dessert with a moist texture and three types of milk. - The milk mixture uses one 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk, one 12-ounce can of evaporated milk and ¾ cup whole milk. - The cake is then topped with whipped cream after refrigeration.

Between the lines: - The Dairy Alliance is using familiar dishes to connect a dairy message to cultural identity, not just nutrition. - The recipe list leans on everyday foods and celebration desserts, signaling that dairy is framed as both practical and symbolic. - The focus on the Southeast reflects the region’s growing Hispanic population and the organization’s existing footprint there.

What's next: - The Dairy Alliance is encouraging consumers to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by making and sharing Hispanic and Latin American recipes that include dairy. - More information is available at The Dairy Alliance’s website and on The Dairy Alliance on social media on Facebook or Instagram.

The bottom line: - The Dairy Alliance is positioning real dairy as a familiar ingredient in Hispanic and Latin American food traditions, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month.