Agricultural News
Dairy Farmers Open Their Barn Doors to Celebrate 80 Years of National Dairy Month
Thu, 01 Jun 2017 09:49:20 CDT
There is no denying the joy that dairy can bring, through a delicious slice of cheddar on a burger at the family barbeque, a cold glass of milk or a giant scoop of ice cream. But when it comes to what dairy even is; where dairy comes from; or how dairy farmers care for their animals, the environment and the communities they live in, misinformation is everywhere, confusing consumers at every turn. In fact, according to a recent survey, nearly 50 percent of people think eggs are dairy and nearly half of Americans don't know where chocolate milk comes from.
To spotlight the role dairy plays in peoples' everyday lives and to bring consumers closer to where dairy comes from, the farmer-founded Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, in partnership with nearly 42,000 family farms, processors and dairy brands, is kicking off a month-long celebration of National Dairy Month. The events are part of the dairy community's unprecedented campaign, "Undeniably DairyTM" - a multiyear effort to showcase all that is good about dairy, from the farm to the foods we love.
Visit America's Dairy Farms
Throughout the month, hundreds of America's dairy farmers, from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin to Colorado to California, will be "opening their barn doors" to reintroduce people to their local farms and the families who run them. A variety of signature events, including farm-to-table breakfasts with local chefs and farm tours, will give consumers an opportunity to experience farm fresh foods right from the source and learn more about where dairy comes from.
"We are excited to invite people to the source of their favorite dairy products so they can experience and see the practices dairy farmers are proud of and committed to," says Ron Gibson, a fifth-generation farmer from Gibson Green Acres Dairy in Ogden, Utah, who is hosting an event on June 1. "Visitors might be surprised to see that, like them, we use the latest technology to be more efficient, to be conscientious of our land and to take care of our animals, while also producing undeniably great-tasting milk, the foundation for all that is good about dairy."
Despite dairy farms being in all 50 states and most people living within 100 miles of one, a recent survey found that only one in 10 consumers has ever visited a dairy farm, making these events a great opportunity to experience life on the farm while learning more about where their food comes from - like the fact that most milk travels an average of only 300 miles from farm to store shelf, and 97 percent of dairy farms are family-owned and operated.
"What better time than National Dairy Month to showcase the undeniable commitment that dairy farmers have to their local communities," said Beth Engelmann, chief marketing communications officer at Dairy Management Inc. "Our goal is that for every cup of yogurt or glass of chocolate milk that someone enjoys, there is a memorable connection back to the farmers that make it all possible."
Raise a Glass: Today is World Milk Day
National Dairy Month festivities kick off today, known globally as World Milk Day. In the U.S., an average of 12 million gallons of milk are consumed each day, with nearly half of that consumed with cereal. Today, people around the country are encouraged to celebrate with a cold glass of milk that offers great taste, great nutrition and likely came from a farm nearby.
To learn more about visiting a dairy farm near you, fun farm facts or about the Undeniably Dairy Campaign click here, or check it out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Dairy Delicious Did-You-Knows:
- 43% of Americans would give up social media for a year's supply of free ice cream
- 94% of Americans' favorite delicious treats prominently feature dairy
- 41% of Americans like to start their day with a beverage that includes dairy
Source - Dairy Management Inc.
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