FROM THE FARMERS - Dairy
The US produces 12 billion pounds of cheese each year! Wisconsin produces about 26% of that, followed by California with 20%. Idaho, New York, New Mexico & MInnesota combined produce about 27% of the yearly US total. If you are wondering what kind of cheese rules, then check your refrigerator, or think about your last grilled cheese sandwich or pizza - 62% of the US cheese production is....(drumroll, please)...Mozzarella and Cheddar. So if you are like the average person who eats 35 pounds of cheese per year, AND yogurt, butter, cottage cheese and milk, then check out these links to learn more about the DAIRY industry - because it's one of our favorite foods and refrigerator staples.
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As with many categories within the food industry, there are political, economic, environmental and social issues that have opposing viewpoints - the dairy industry is no exception. Trends in food consumption (i.e. vegan diets or reducing dairy and milk intake) and environmental awareness (i.e. pollution from farming, using growth hormones in cows to increase milk production yields) also have far reaching implications. These issues will be discussed in future blog posts.
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HOLIDAYS
National Cheese Lovers Day | January 20
National Dairy Month | June
World Milk Day | June 1
National Cheese Pizza Day | September 5
National Cheeseburger Day | September 18
National Chocolate Milk Day | September 27
American Cheese Month | October
NATIONAL
NATIONAL DAIRY COUNCIL
Since 1915, this organization has been promoting dairy. Their mission is to provide "science-based education about the nutrition and health benefits that dairy foods provide, while also connecting people to the hard-working dairy farmers who bring nutritious milk, cheese and yogurt to tables across America."
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INNOVATION CENTER FOR US DAIRY
This site goes by the name Dairy Good and Undeniably Dairy(TM) and is a content partner of the National Dairy Council. Here you'll find recipes by keyword, or by meal occasion (i.e. breakfast, lunch or dinner, snack, appetizer, beverage) and articles relating to dairy facts and myths as well as health and nutrition. The Dairy Dictionary will help fill in the gaps in your dairy knowledge (Did you know the definition of a Heifer? A. A female dairy animal that has yet to give birth to a calf.)
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AMERICAN CHEESE SOCIETY​
This organization bills itself as the leader in promoting and supporting American cheeses. Most of the information is for the industry, but one section focuses on consumer education - tips for cheese lovers, recipes and a glossary.
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GOT MILK? / MILKTRUTH / TOMALECHE / MILKLIFE
All of your milk questions answered, in a multitude of websites. Even though they've replaced the "got milk?" campaign with "Milk Life" we will forever admire the milk mustache and its slew of "got" copycats. The organization has it's work cut out for it, as non-dairy milk alternatives (think almond, coconut, soy, etc.) have become more popular.​
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WISCONSIN
WISCONSIN MILK MARKETING BOARD (industry site)
This non-profit organization (WMMB) is funded by Wisconsin's dairy farm families. Their goal is to increase the sale and consumption of Wisconsin cheese, milk and dairy products. Form their Dairy Data info, you'll learn that the state's population of cows numbers 1,279,000 (that's about as many people in Dallas, TX!) which produce about 3 billion gallons of milk per year. There are 203 plants manufacturing cheese, yogurt, butter and other dairy products. Learn about the individual dairy companies in Wisconsin, as well as purchase a cheese board in the shape of their state, a cow-shaped bookmark, a "Keep Calm and Have Cheese" t-shirt and other Wisconsin Dairy cheese and dairy gear. How cheesy can you get?
WISCONSIN CHEESE - WISCONSIN MILK MARKETING BOARD (consumer site)
After learning about the industry, check out the WMMB consumer sites, with recipes, videos, cheese education (Cheese 101- types of cheese, cheese pairings, how cheese is made) and more. These include: EatWisconsinCheese.com, GrilledCheeseAcademy.com and WisconsinCheeseTalk.com.
NATIONAL HISTORIC CHEESEMAKING CENTER & MUSEUM
If you are planning to visit Monroe, WI, then this center is the place to be, where "Cheese is Our Culture." If not, then check out their website where you can read about the history of cheesemaking in the US, with a special emphasis on Wisconsin. You'll learn how the English brought their cheesemaking skills to the New England colonies in the 1600s, and cheesemaking moved West (to upstate New York, the Midwest and all the way to California) along with the population, helped by immigration from such countries as Germany, Norway and Switzerland, and fertile lands that support raising cows.
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CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA MILK ADVISORY BOARD
From the folks who bring you the amusing cow commercials (yes, you can view them online!), this site aims to educate you on the details of California cows, farms and communities. Up your cheese game with recipes, a cheese glossary, Cheese 101 facts, cheese types, and a history, in case you are curious about the story of Monterey Jack.
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vermont
VERMONT CHEESE COUNCIL
When you think of Vermont, the first cheese that comes to mind is Cabot cheese - they may be the largest, but there are many artisan cheese makers in the state. See which you can visit by viewing the Cheese Trail. The website also has a search function for Vermont cheeses by cheese or milk type, and recipes, of course.
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imported
SAVENCIA - ILE DE FRANCE & ALOUETTE
Ile De France describes their website as the "Portal Of The French Cheese Community" - where you'll find recipes, cheese pairings, "Cheese How To" articles and links relating to recipes, cheese, wine and cooking. Visit their sister site, for everybody's favorite spreadable cheeses, Alouette.
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butter
AMERICAN BUTTER INSTITUTE | GO BOLD WITH BUTTER
Their website "Go Bold With Butter" is what this site from the National Milk Producers Federation, which promotes the economic well-being of dairy producers and cooperatives. In addition to their lobbying efforts on Capital Hill, they also administer the Real(r) seal program. Go bold with recipes that incorporate butter, learn about the different types of butter, and see how butter is made. This organization is associated with Undeniably Dairy, a program of the National Dairy Council and Innovation Center of US Dairy (see above).
YOGURT
NATIONAL YOGURT ASSOCIATION
What exactly are "live and active cultures?" Can people of all ages enjoy yogurt? What about those who are lactose intolerant? Visit the site to get answers and learn more about how they promote the $7 billion yogurt industry.
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YOGURT IN NUTRITION INITIATIVE
From the website: "The Yogurt in Nutrition Initiative is a collaborative project between the Danone Institute International, the American Society for Nutrition (nutrition.org} and International Osteoporosis Foundation which aims to evaluate the current evidence base on the nutritional impact of yogurt. The mission of the project is to uncover scientific data related to yogurt, stimulate new research and identify gaps in our understanding of the health effects of this food category and to disseminate broadly this information with professionals and the public." Cooking tips, along with a myriad of studies to show yogurt as one of the best foods for your health - you be the judge! Many resources and graphics available that show yogurt consumption trends and health benefits, as well as the history of yogurt making dating back to 5000 BCE.