National Dairy Month Facts!

June is national dairy month! Originally established as a grocery/milk promotion in 1937, it now acts as a reminder of the health benefits that dairy products provide. This is a great month to explore new dairy products, visit dairy farms, and enjoy a cold glass of milk! To celebrate we wanted to share some interesting facts about dairy products! 

Eating cheese 30 mins before bed helps you sleep better

Calcium, found in cheese, yogurt and milk, helps the brain use the tryptophan found in dairy to manufacture sleep-triggering melatonin. Calcium also helps regulate muscle movements, which means fewer sleep-busters like cramps or restless legs.

Cheese existed before written language did.

Ancient cheese strainers found in Poland suggest it dates back to at least 7,500 years ago. And murals found in Egyptian tombs from 4,000 years ago show cheese and the art of cheese making.

One cow will produce an average of 6.3 gallons of milk each day.

That’s more than 2,300 gallons each year and the average dairy farm has 96 cows. 

Cheddar cheese is not naturally yellow.

The bright orange cheddar cheese we all know and love is not a natural result of its curdled milk components. It's the result of hundreds of years of tradition, dating back to the time when cheddar cheese in England was made with milk from cows whose beta-carotene-rich diet produced an orange tint in the milk. To make it more appealing cheesemakers dyed it orange and it stuck!

The most popular cheese in the world is Mozzarella

According to a study done in January of 2021 mozzarella cheese is the most popular cheese eaten across the world. Closely followed by cheddar, feta, ricotta, then parmigiano reggiano (parmesan).