Local Milk From Local Dairy Farms

BOULDER - Did you know that most of the milk you purchase in Colorado grocery stores comes from Colorado dairy farm families?

In fact, Colorado is home to about 120 dairy farms – 98% of them family owned and operated. Of the state's top foods produced, dairy ranks second (behind cattle and calves) with an estimated 3.75 billion pounds of milk produced each year. That milk goes to a number of processing plants in the state. In addition to bottling milk, these processors also make cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream, yogurt, whey protein powders and more from the fluid milk.

So how can you tell if the milk you purchase is from Colorado dairies? Each container of milk is identified by a numerical code. This code is typically found near the top of the container. The code includes a 2-digit state code followed by a 1- to 5-digit processing plant code. Milk produced in the state of Colorado will be identified by the state code 08. For example, if your gallon of white milk says 08-06, you know that it was processed and packaged in Colorado. You can also look for the Colorado Proud label on your milk and other dairy foods.

For 80 percent of Colorado's milk, the journey from farm to plant is 40 miles or less, and in most instances, the milk you buy in your grocery store was harvested on farm less than 2 days (48 hours) prior. Now that's local!

Buying local milk and dairy foods, along with other Colorado Proud products, helps support jobs, sustain family farms and contribute to Colorado's economy.

Visit www.westerndairyassociation.org to learn more about your local dairy farm families.

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