South San Francisco & Modesto, Feb. 1 - California's dairy industry set new production records in 2007, asserting its role as the nation's leading dairy state.
The state’s cheese producers kept production at a record pace in the past year, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) preliminary report for 2007. The 2,287,280,000 pounds of cheese that California produced in 2007 was 3.6 percent higher than the 2,207,739,000 pounds produced in 2006, which also set a record.
Cheese production in California has increased by more than 80 percent over the past decade, growing from 1.25 billion pounds in 1998. This rapid growth brings the state closer to claiming the spot of top cheese producer nationally, which it is projected to do soon. California produces nearly one out of every four pounds of cheese made in the U.S.
California milk production also reached a record high in 2007, totaling 40.6 billion pounds, a 4.8 percent increase over 2006, according to the CDFA. California is the nation’s leading milk producer and nearly half of California’s milk supply goes to cheese production. (It takes 10 pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese.)
“California’s dairy industry is one of the largest agricultural forces in the state and in recent years has become a growing supplier of dairy products nationwide,” said Stan G. Andre, Chief Executive Officer, California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). He noted that in late 2007, the California dairy industry introduced the Real California Milk seal to help consumers across the country identify dairy products produced exclusively with California milk.
The new milk seal also extends the very popular Happy Cows national advertising campaign that the CMAB has used successfully for many years. The Happy Cows now promote all California dairy products under the theme: Great milk comes from Happy Cows. Happy Cows come from California. Make sure it’s made with Real California Milk.
California produces about 21 percent of the nation’s total milk supply. Dairy farming is the largest agricultural commodity group among the 250 in California, producing around $4.5 billion in annual sales. A 2004 study showed the state’s dairy industry had an economic impact on California of $47.4 billion in wages, revenues and related expenditures, and generated 434,000 full-time jobs.
Today, California is the second-largest producer of cheese and is home to more than 50 cheesemakers who produce 250 varieties and styles.