Dairy.com has announced plans to launch the first business-to-business online vertical exchange specifically serving the U.S. dairy industry. The exchange's services and tools will be open to all industry participants from farmers to processors and manufacturers.

Dairy.com is planning five key functional platforms for the site: a dairy commodity exchange, dairy farmer services, information tools, supply chain management tools and industry-focused community and content. The exchange is scheduled to launch its first release in the first quarter of 2001 with live trading of select commodities including milk and cream, and logistics estimating tools. Future releases will include spot and long-term trading of other dairy commodities, including butter, cheese and powders, as well as farm management tools.

Dairy.com is an independent, neutral company founded by eight organizations representing all segments of the industry -- farmer owned cooperatives, milk, ice cream and yogurt processors and manufacturers. Founding partners include Dairy Farmers of America, The Dannon Company, Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Kraft Foods, Land O'Lakes, Leprino Foods, Schreiber Foods and Suiza Foods.