June is National Dairy Month
June has been designated as National Dairy Month – a monthlong celebration of all things dairy.
June Dairy Month is the perfect excuse for indulging. Who doesn’t love a reason to enjoy a chocolate milkshake or an ooey-gooey grilled cheese sandwich?
June Dairy Month is all about promoting dairy products, building awareness of the nutritional benefits of dairy, recognizing the farmers and affiliates that bring dairy to our table, and educating the public about the economic impact of the industry.
Ready to learn more about the world of Dairy?
HISTORY OF JUNE DAIRY MONTH
June Dairy Month originally started out as National Milk Month in 1937. This monthlong celebration was established in response to a surplus of milk. During the warmer months, milk production was at its peak and plentiful. To stabilize the market and increase milk consumption, Milk Month was formed. In 1939, the name changed to June Dairy Month to include all dairy products.
NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF DAIRY
June is the perfect time to jumpstart summer with nutrient-rich dairy foods.
Here are some nutrients found in dairy foods that your body needs:
- Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium: Builds and maintains strong bones and teeth
- Protein: Builds and repairs muscle tissue; building block of all body cells
- Zinc: Important for immune function
- Vitamin A: Keeps skin and eyes healthy; help support healthy immune cells
- B Vitamins (612, B5, B3, B2): Helps convert food into fuel
- Vitamin D: Helps maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorous, which build and maintain bones
- Potassium: Can help to maintain healthy blood pressure
CONCLUSION
Join the June celebration of dairy by attending organized activities and events in your area. Can’t find one in your area? Make your own celebration by supporting your local artisan cheese shop or hosting an ice cream sundae bar with all the fixings.
To wrap things up, here are some interesting and fun facts about Dairy:
- About 72 percent of the calcium in the U.S. food supply comes from dairy foods.
- To get the amount of calcium in an 8-ounce glass of milk, you’d have to eat seven oranges or six slices of wheat bread.
- Fresh milk will stay fresher longer if you add a pinch of salt to each quart.
- A dairy cow produces an average of 6.3 gallons of milk daily. That’s more than 2,300 gallons each year and 350,000 glasses of milk in a lifetime.
- A cow eats 90–100 pounds of food and drinks about 35 gallons of water (the equivalent of a bathtub full) every day.
- It takes 10 pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese.
- It takes 12 pounds of whole milk to make one gallon of ice cream.
- It takes 21.8 pounds of milk to make one pound of butter.
- About 300 varieties of cheese are sold in the United States.
Enjoy these recipes provided by Patz employees:
