June is National Dairy Month

For more than 75 years, June has been celebrated as National Dairy Month to recognize dairy products and the farm families who produce them.

The festivities kick off with World Milk Day on June 1. Initiated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Milk Day highlights the importance of milk as part of a healthy and balanced diet. It also recognizes the dairy industry’s global contributions to economic development and agriculture. That includes:

One billion people who derive their livelihood from dairy
The industry’s commitment to  sustainability and protecting the environment

Dairy products (think milk, cheese and yogurt) provide important nutrition to families. Dairy is packed with a high-quality protein that supports healthy muscles and promotes fullness. Did you know the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people ages nine and older consume three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods every day?

And, with only three ingredients listed on the label – milk and vitamins A and D – and about a 48-hour journey from the farm to the grocery store, milk is a local food which fits easily into the  clean eating trend.

How can you celebrate Dairy Month? Start by raising a glass of milk, slice of cheese, cup of yogurt, scoop of ice cream — or any other of your favorite dairy products — to the dairy farm families of Kansas who own and operate the about 300 licensed dairy farms in the state. Their top priority each day is to produce high quality dairy products while providing the best possible care for their animals and our environment.