Membership
Membership Categories
Where Does Your Organization Fit?
Memberships are valid on a calendar year basis (January – December), and each membership category can have an unlimited number of individual employees who benefit. Questions regarding memberships can be directed to Beth Holcomb, Vice President of Membership & Communications, via email bholcomb@adpi.org or by phone at 630.530.8700 x228.
Membership applications are subject to review and approval by the Board of Director’s Executive Committee and confirmation by the Board. The categories listed below are valid for the membership year beginning January 1, 2026.
Membership Categories
Processor
Firms processing dairy liquid components directly or indirectly into finished, marketable ingredients at a plant located within the United States, including the territory of Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico or at a plant owned outside of these countries and imported into America for further sales or distribution.
Processor members are eligible for representation on the ADPI Board of Directors and have voting rights.
Annual membership dues are based on the volume (lbs) of qualified individual dairy ingredients produced in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the territory of Puerto Rico, and as well as qualified individual dairy ingredients produced internationally and imported into the United States, Canada, Mexico and the territory of Puerto Rico in a calendar year.
Trading Company
Firms involved in the marketing and distribution of dairy products produced or imported into America (Canada, Mexico and the United States including the territory of Puerto Rico).
Annual membership dues are based on sales volume (lbs) of dairy ingredients in America (Canada, Mexico and the United States including the territory of Puerto Rico) in a calendar year.
Calculated dues will determine if organization does or does not qualify as a voting member and are or are not eligible for representation on the ADPI Board of Directors.
Affiliate
Firms that are manufacturers, distributors, or suppliers of equipment, materials, and/or services to the dairy industry.
Affiliate members are not eligible for representation on the ADPIAmerican Dairy Products Institute More Board of Directors.
Firms that would qualify for the Processor, Trading Companies or International categories are not eligible to be Affiliate members.
Annual membership dues are flat-fee as determined by ADPI’s Board of Directors.
Utilization
Firms using finished, marketable dairy ingredients for input into finished goods that neither process dairy liquid components nor supply equipment, materials or services to the industry.
Utilization members have the opportunity to elevate their basic membership status to a Tier I Utilization member, with due fees being based on the organization’s ingredient utilization volumes. An upgraded membership includes the eligibility to hold a seat on the ADPIAmerican Dairy Products Institute More Board of Directors and have voting rights.
Basic Utilization tier dues are flat-fee as determined by ADPI’s Board of Directors.
Academic Institutions
An accredited degree-granting institution that is dedicated to research and education. These institutions range from post-secondary institutions such as technical schools, colleges and universities, and they all have a faculty and fields of study that enable students to achieve degree completion. An academic institution can either offer a broad education in a variety of subjects or specialize in a single field of study.
Academic Institution members are not Voting Members and are not eligible for representation on the ADPIAmerican Dairy Products Institute More Board of Directors. Processors, Trading Companies (Tier I, II), Affiliate, and International members are not eligible to be Academic Institution Members.
Academic Institutions meeting stated membership criteria are invited to apply for membership, and pending review and subsequent approval by our Board of Directors will be invited to join ADPI at “no cost” as related to annual dues.
