Why milk is having a moment again

A few years back, my office went through a big remodel, and I cleaned out my file cabinet full of paperwork dating back to the 1980s.

I found an old invitation to a Farm Bureau meeting, promising that they would serve “MILK” for lunch. (Yes, it was typed in all caps.)

It made me laugh, because Iowa farmers still insist that we serve milk at all Farm Bureau gatherings.

After years of competing with soda and sports drinks, milk is trending again with consumers. TikTok influencers are even pouring cream into Diet Coke and calling it a “dirty soda.”

Families are also looking for more high-protein foods, like real dairy, that are easy and convenient. Milk, cheese and yogurt are excellent sources of protein, and they provide essential nutrients that help maintain muscle and support bone health as we age.

June Dairy Month is a good time to look for deals on cheese, yogurt and other dairy foods.

And Iowa farm families are working hard to meet our growing appetite for high-protein dairy foods. For the first time since the 1990s, Iowa now ranks as a top 10 state in U.S. milk production.

So when you pick up a gallon of milk, take a moment to be grateful for Iowa dairy farmers, who start work before sunup to care for their cows and provide nutritious milk for our families.

I hope you enjoy many trips for ice cream this summer. And if you have a question about Iowa farming or how your food is grown and raised, feel free to contact me. I would love to connect you with Iowa farmers.

Take care,

Teresa Bjork
Editor, The Iowa Dish

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Learn more about author Teresa Bjork here.