ARDEN HILLS, MINN. — Land O'Lakes, Inc. has accepted six start-ups in an accelerator program created to support the dairy industry. During a three-month course, participants will meet with business mentors and Land O’Lakes executives and will attend seminars focused on the topics of finance, brand building, sales and leadership development.

“Our 2018 participating companies span dairy categories, demonstrating the vitality and versatility of dairy,” said Raquel Melo, vice-president of innovation and new business development at Land O’Lakes. “We’re excited to support the dairy industry by nurturing these innovators and entrepreneurs in the accelerator program.”

Participating companies include: Blue Marble Ice Cream, a maker of organic ice cream and sorbets; Darling Pickle Dips, which makes refrigerated cream cheese dips flavored with pickled vegetables, herbs and spices; Norr Skyr, a brand of Icelandic-style organic yogurt; Numa Foods, a producer of milk-based chewy snacks infused with nuts and dried fruit; SmashPack, a brand of protein fruit smoothie pouches and pudding pouches made with grass-fed dairy; and Tulip Tree Creamery, a maker of soft-ripened and semi-soft cheeses and butter.