Albany Legislators Celebrate June is National Dairy Month

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NO. SYRACUSE, NY (06/06/2017) (readMedia)-- (Syracuse, NY) June is the month in which we celebration the dairy industry in our country. It all started back in 1937 to help promote the consumption of milk which provided essential vitamins and nutrients to children attending school and a growing population. Throughout the many decades since then the many varieties of tasty dairy products have provided us with riboflavin, Vitamin A, D, K, calcium, potassium and protein to help ensure healthy assorted lifestyles. These beneficial nutrients may help to better manage your weight, reduce your risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis and certain cancers.

Celebrating June is National Dairy Month provides us with the opportunity to thank the hard working dairy farm families who milk the cows producing the milk and dairy products we enjoy every day. In addition, all the milk produced on farms goes to local dairy processing and manufacturing plants every day. The plants add value by processing and packaging assorted products we enjoy including all types of real fluid milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, whip cream, dips, sour cream, cream cheese, butter and many more.

On Wednesday June 7 at noon, members of the NY State Legislature will celebrate June is Dairy Month in the Well of the Legislative Office Building in Albany. Representatives of the dairy industry and various support groups will be in attendance providing samples of dairy products and related information.

Sponsoring the event is the NY State Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patty Ritchie and NY State Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair William Magee. On hand to provide remarks will be NY State Alternate Dairy Princess Sydney Parkin.

"Each and every day, thousands of dairy farmers across our state work hard to be part of producing everything from milk and cheese to yogurt and ice cream," said Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Patty Ritchie. "I am proud to co-sponsor 'Dairy Day' for the second year in a row, which showcases the hard work done by New York dairy farmers and how important this essential industry is to strengthening communities across Central and Northern New York, as well as bolstering the state's economy."

William Magee, Chairman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee said "agriculture is our state's biggest industry, and dairy is the largest segment, I'm happy to support both the dairy farmers and dairy processors who bring us nutritious, quality and safe dairy products every day, we should never take for granted where our food comes from."

Bruce W. Krupke, Executive Vice President of Northeast Dairy Foods Assoc., Inc. says "recognizing June as Dairy Month is important in many ways, most importantly the role the industry plays in our local food supply and then economically with the thousands of jobs the industry provides in the production, processing, manufacturing and distribution of the many dairy products we all enjoy every day throughout the year."

There are about 60,000 dairy farms in the US, and about 12,000 in the northeast and 4,500 in New York State. There are approximately 100 dairy processin and manufacturing plants in NY State. Each day, the average cow produces about 6.5 gallons of milk. A gallon of milk weighs about 8.3 pounds and it takes 10 pounds of milk to produce one pound of cheese. It takes 3 gallons of milk to manufacture one gallon of ice cream and 2 gallons to make a pound of butter.

Help celebrate and support your local dairy industry by choosing a cold glass of white or chocolate milk with your meals. Whether it's protein to help build and repair the muscle tissue of active bodies or vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin, dairy products are a natural nutrient powerhouse. Those are just a few of the reasons that you should celebrate dairy not just in June, but all year long. The public, legislators and staff are welcome to attend this event which starts at 10:30am through 1:30pm.