Celebrate National Dairy Month in June

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 6, 2011) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture encourages all Marylanders to celebrate National Dairy Month by enjoying healthy and nutritious local dairy products all month long and throughout the year. As Maryland’s third largest agricultural commodity, milk and dairy products accounted for more than $144.6 million in farm receipts in 2009. National Dairy Month celebrates the value of milk and dairy products as part of well-balanced diets of every American, as well as the importance of milk production to the agricultural industry.

“Dairy farming is a vital part of Maryland’s agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance. “These farms are associated with a quarter million acres of open, productive farmland and provide us with milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese and many other nutritious foods. The O’Malley Administration is committed to keeping family farms profitable, which helps to keep Maryland smart, green and growing. I encourage Marylanders to support our dairy farmers.”

Much of the milk produced in Maryland, through its 528 dairy farms, is channeled through cooperatives and milk processors that include Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers, Dairy Farmers of America, Land O’Lakes, Horizon Organic Dairy, Organic Valley Co-operative, Rutters, United Dairy, NFO, and Lanco Pennland Quality Milk Producers. Marylanders can also enjoy local dairy products by visiting farms that produce ice cream, bottled milk, yogurt and cheeses. (A list of those dairy farms, including some goat cheese producers is at the end of this release.) You can also visit www.marylandsbest.net to find local farms.

June Dairy Month was established in 1937 and initially supported by the National Dairy Council to celebrate the dairy industry and to help stabilize dairy demand during periods of peak production.  Originally called National Milk Month, the celebration is now led by the American Dairy Association and has broadened over the years to promote the greater use of dairy products and the importance of dairy products in a healthy diet.

Maryland Dairy Facts:
•    Milk and dairy products accounted for $144.6 million in Maryland’s farm receipts in 2009.
•     In 2009, Maryland dairy farms produced 997 million pounds of milk.
•    As of April 2010, Maryland had 528 dairy farms.
•    There are 55,000 milk cows that produced an average 18,255 pounds of milk.
•    Frederick, Washington, and Carroll counties are the top three dairy producing areas accounting for 63 percent of Maryland’s milk production in 2009.
•    Maryland dairies are diversifying and expanding on-farm dairy processing thanks to market demand for locally raised and made products such as bottled milk, cheese, ice cream and yogurt.
•    Legislation in 2008 and 2009 allowing for the expansion of value added products to include farmstead cheese (raw milk cheese) to be made on the farm. Today, there are two farms making farmstead cheese.

The following is a list of list of Maryland farms that offer direct sale of farmstead cheese and ice cream.  A soundbook with Holly Foster, Chapel’s Country Creamery in Easton, discussing cheese making on her family farm is also available online.

Baltimore County
Prigel Family Creamery

Caroline County
Nice Farms

Cecil County
Kilby Cream

Frederick County
Buttercup Valley Farm
South Mountain Creamery

Garrett County
Firefly Farms

Harford County
Broom’s Bloom Dairy
Cedar Hill Creamery
Hawks Hill Creamery
Keyes Creamery

Howard County
Bowling Green Farm

Kent County
Eve’s Cheese

Montgomery County
Cherry Glen Goat Cheese

Prince George’s County
P.A. Bowen Farmstead & Creamery (store opening planned for fall/winter 2011), (301) 579-2727

Talbot County
Chapel’s Country Creamery

Washington County
Caprikorn Farms
Clear Spring Creamery
Palmyra Farm
Spriggs Delight
Windmill Meadows Farm (sells at farm and other locations), (301) 739-5258

Worcester County
Chesapeake Bay Farms