Six dairy companies have been chosen to participate in the 2018 Land O'Lakes, Inc. Dairy Accelerator, which will provide tailored coursework and mentorship to dairy entrepreneurs.

The three-month course will provide participants with the opportunity to meet with both Land O'Lakes and external business mentors, as well as participate in seminars on topics including finance, brand building, sales, and leadership development.

"Our 2018 participating companies span dairy categories, demonstrating the vitality and versatility of dairy. We're excited to support the dairy industry by nurturing these innovators and entrepreneurs in the accelerator program," said Raquel Melo, vice president of Innovation and New Business Development at Land O'Lakes, Inc.

The selected 2018 Land O'Lakes Dairy Accelerator participants are:

Blue Marble Ice Cream: (Organic ice creams and sorbets)
Founded by two friends in 2007 in Brooklyn, New York, Blue Marble Ice Cream products are made of milk from certified organic, pasture-raised cows. Ice cream and sorbet flavors include classics like vanilla and chocolate, and more unique options like Mexican Chocolate, Pumpkin and Green Tea.

Darling Pickle Dips: (Cream cheese dips flavored with pickled vegetables, herbs and spices)
Born out of a love of snacking by its founders, Darling Pickle Dips offers refrigerated dips made from a cream cheese and white bean base, combined with pickled vegetables, herbs and spices. Flavors include Original Dill Pickle, White Cheddar & Mustard with Dill Pickle, and Spicy Pickle.

Norr Skyr: (Flavored organic skyr)
Offering Icelandic-style high-protein strained yogurt, Norr Skyr ('skyr' meaning "thickened milk") products are organic and grass-fed and incorporate unique Scandinavian flavors like sea buckthorn, gooseberry, elderflower and raspberry rosewater.

Numa Foods: (Milk-based chewy snacks inspired by Taiwanese nougat)
Numa's Milk Chews are milk-based chewy snacks infused with nuts and dried fruit inspired by Taiwanese nougat, a popular treat in China and Taiwan. Milk powder and butter are core ingredients, achieving the milky flavor profile these treats are known for.

SmashPack: (Protein fruit smoothie pouches and grass-fed pudding pouches)
Launched in 2015 by a husband and wife team who aspired to create a healthier version of a protein snack, SmashPack offers protein-packed fruit smoothie and grass-fed pudding in on-the-go squeeze pouches. Flavors include Chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Pudding and Mixed Berry, Tropical Fruit and Orange Peach Protein Fruit Smoothies with MCT oil.

Tulip Tree Creamery: (Hand-crafted soft-ripened, semi-soft and fresh cheeses and butter)
Indianapolis-based Tulip Tree Creamery produces specialty handcrafted cheeses and butter, using traditional European recipes combined with the founders' own twist. All products are made from milk that is sourced from family dairies in Indiana.