Five Reasons To Love Dairy In June And Every Day

From the real foods made with wholesome, nutritious milk to the real dairy families behind them, there are countless reasons to celebrate dairy this month. For Californians, the month has special relevance as Governor Brown has proclaimed June Real California Milk Month. The official proclamation recognizes the more than 1,400 dairy families who help make California the number one milk-producing state and dairy the state's number one agricultural commodity.

"Dairy foods are at the heart of America's favorite meals and snacks," said John Talbot, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). "During June Dairy Month, we are especially proud to celebrate these favorite foods that grace tables across the country as well as the more than 200 year heritage of dairy farming in the state and the innovative practices our California dairy farm families use every day to produce a nutritious product."

The experts at Real California Milk offer five not-so-cheesy reasons to celebrate dairy this June:

1. Endless options for memorable outdoor entertaining: June means warmer weather, longer days and more sunshine and time to entertain outdoors, dairy style. Host a DIY ice cream sandwich bar with a variety of ice cream flavors, cookies and toppings to roll the edges. Or, complete your backyard BBQ with a butter station for bread or corn on the cob with herbed and spiced varieties.

2. Real dairy nutrients benefit all family members: Real dairy products are a wholesome and delicious source of essential nutrients. Milk, cheese, and yogurt provide calcium, protein, potassium and vitamin D, an important part of overall health. Nurse Barb Dehn, nurse practitioner and family medical expert, advises people of all ages to incorporate dairy in their diets.

"Calcium from dairy is key in building and maintaining strong bones for children, but they aren't the only ones who should focus on dairy as a part of their diet. Nutrients from dairy products can help to lower blood pressure for grandma and grandpa, provide essential vitamins to expecting mothers and offer a source of protein from real food for active dads," said Dehn.

3. Love real dairy milk, cheese and ice cream? Chances are it was made by the nation's leading dairy producing state: California.

California produces more milk, butter and ice cream than any other state. The state's cheesemakers make more than 250 varieties and styles of cheese, leading the nation in production of Mozzarella, Hispanic-style and Monterey Jack cheeses. California also produces 126 million gallons of ice cream per year. That makes for 16 billion scoops of America's favorite dessert.

4. California's more than 1,400 dairy farm families are committed to sustainable agricultural practices. California milk is one of the most sustainable nutrient-rich foods consumers can purchase because there is so little waste in the production process. Water is used multiple times without it ever leaving the farm while the state's 1.7 million dairy cows are fed by-products from other food industries that would normally go into the landfill.

5. June is Real California Milk Month: California Governor Brown recognizes the tremendous impact the dairy industry has on the state, and has officially proclaimed, "California's dairy industry leads the nation in milk production and is a cornerstone of the state's agricultural economy." He adds, "Dairy farming and processing contributed approximately $21 billion in added value to the gross California state product each year, and $65 billion in sales to the California economy."

Starting in June, watch for more dairy recipes and tips as Real California Milk rolls out a year-long partnership with Tastemade to provide recipe videos featuring family-friendly breakfasts, healthy snacks and Latin-inspired dishes.

Real food comes from real people. Consumers can look for the Real California Milk and Cheese seals on dairy brands throughout the U.S. These seals ensure they are made with 100 percent milk produced by Real California dairy farm families.

About the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB)

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state's more than 1,400 dairy families. With headquarters in Tracy, the CMAB is one of the largest agricultural marketing boards in the United States. The CMAB executes advertising, public relations, research and retail and foodservice promotional programs on behalf of California dairy products, including Real California Milk and Real California Cheese, throughout the U.S. and internationally. For more information and to connect with the CMAB through social media, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, like at Facebook.com/RealCaliforniaMilk, view videos at YouTube.com/RealCaliforniaMilk, follow at Twitter.com/RealCalifMilk and Instagram.com/RealCalifMilk and pin at Pinterest.com/RealCalifMilk.

SOURCE California Milk Advisory Board

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