A team of food science students from New Mexico State University has taken top honors in Dairy Management Inc.’s (DMI) annual New Product Competition with Nuestro Corazón, a high-dairy, heart-conscious snack pack designed for modern lifestyles.
The product—made up of nearly 80% dairy—combines protein-packed cheddar and mozzarella crackers with Greek yogurt spreads in unique flavors like chimichurri, harissa, and dulce de leche. Each serving delivers 20% of the recommended daily protein intake, targeting health-conscious consumers seeking convenience without sacrificing nutrition.
Chosen for best aligning with this year’s theme—heart health and weight management—the NMSU team received DMI’s Platinum Dairy Innovator Award and a $10,000 prize during the American Dairy Science Association’s annual meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.
The annual DMI competition encourages innovation among future food scientists by challenging student teams to develop new dairy-forward products based on evolving consumer trends. Other top winners this year included teams from South Dakota State University, Clemson University, Oregon State, and Cornell.
Learn more about DMI’s product innovation work at usdairy.com and the national dairy checkoff at DairyCheckoff.com.
