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For National Dairy Month, check out key trends and updates in the dairy industry, some exciting new dairy products, and why milk is on trend.
National Dairy Month is an annual tradition celebrated every June that began back in 1937. Originally known as National Milk Month, it originated as a way for grocers to promote and distribute more milk during a time of surplus.
By 1939, the National Dairy Council embraced the occasion to celebrate the contributions of the dairy industry and changed the name to National Dairy Month. Farm tours, fairs, and festivals make National Dairy Month a fun way to show support for dairy workers and an opportunity to enjoy a variety of delicious dairy products, from classic favorites to brand-new innovations.
This year has already seen some exciting innovations in the dairy category, with portion-control minis in the spotlight. For cheese, Crystal Farms is offering two new cheese stick flavors designed for adult palates: Gouda and Sharp Cheddar, while Babybel has launched another alternative cheese flavor: Plant-Based White Cheddar.
Catch up on the global cheese market trends for 2023.
Beyond the cheese aisle, consumers can get their cheese fix with Cabot Creamery’s new macaroni and cheese cups, available in three flavors, or try out Quest’s latest snack format: cheese crackers. Quest’s Cheddar Blast crackers are keto-friendly, with 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of net carbs per serving. In the meantime, Velveeta has been expanding the frontiers of confections with its cheese-infused chocolate truffles known as TruffVels.
In the frozen aisle, there are several cool new ice creams to choose from, including Ben & Jerry’s pints in Churray for Churro and Ice Cream Sammie (made with bits of chocolate sandwich cookie). Halo Top has added frozen pops made with Icelandic skyr-style yogurt, fruit, and granola to its lineup, while Entenmann’s is just getting in the game with its ice cream cookie sandwiches. These are available in six of Entenmann’s signature baked goods flavors, including brownie and donut.
Recent launches in milk and dairy-based beverages include a2 Milk’s new grass-fed line (available in both whole and 2%) to capitalize on the growing demand for grass-fed dairy. Another sustainability advancement comes from Wheyward Spirit, known for its upcycled specialty spirits, distilled from 100% whey. Its latest product Wheyskey is a barrel-aged, grain-free alternative to whiskey that features a distinctive dairy taste.
The US dairy industry had its ups and downs last year, but cheese and frozen dairy were definitely bright spots. Last year’s cheese production reached 14.1 billion pounds, up 2.2% from the prior year.1 Most of this growth was in Italian varieties.2 For frozen products, regular ice cream production was up 4.5%, reaching 920 million gallons, although low-fat ice cream declined.3 Frozen yogurt was up 12.6%, with 45.6 million gallons produced in 2022.2
Besides consumer interest in cheese and frozen dairy products, another key trend impacting the US dairy industry is environmental sustainability, with significant resources being devoted to this effort. The International Dairy Foods Association’s Sustainability Recognition Platform outlines some of these ambitious goals, including greenhouse gas neutrality and improvements in water quality and usage by 2050.5
Dairy is a nutrient powerhouse, making it a popular choice for today’s increasingly health-conscious consumers. The dairy group is an essential part of the ideal diet, according to the government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, with three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products per day recommended for most Americans. Dairy contains high-quality protein and several "dietary components of public health concern" such as calcium, vitamin D, and potassium.
The whey protein found in milk is considered the gold standard for protein fortification. Its high PDCAAS and DIAAS values are a measure of its balanced amino acid profile which matches the body’s amino acid requirements. Dairy is also known for being nutrient-dense in calcium. This is especially significant since the calcium in milk is well-absorbed and represents the main source of calcium for Americans.
National Dairy Month is a great opportunity to remind consumers of the many health and nutrition benefits of milk and other dairy products. With healthy eating more critical than ever and dairy in high demand, the presence of dairy ingredients on a food or beverage label can appeal to consumers as a wholesome and healthy choice.
As a global leader in cheese and dairy ingredients, Glanbia Nutritionals offers a wide range of dairy products—from delicious cheese and nutritious dairy-based proteins to innovative milk-derived minerals like TruCal® for bone support. Unlike calcium carbonate and TCP, TruCal delivers phosphorous, magnesium, and potassium along with the trace minerals zinc, copper, and iron—all in similar proportions to those naturally found in bone.
Watch our short video about TruCal®.
Contact us to learn more about our high-quality dairy products for your products, so your consumers can enjoy nutritious dairy all year long.