Read the latest issue of Dairy Market Drivers, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. Dairy Market Drivers features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry.
Dairy Market Drivers: Ice Cream Trends; Celebrating June Dairy Month; and Consumer Sentiment in a Minute!
Quick Bites: Celebrating June Dairy Month
- June is National Dairy Month! Since the 1930s, this month has been dedicated as a time to shine a light on all aspects of dairy production.
- At the center of it all are the nation’s 9.645 million dairy cows on 23,600 dairy farms. April cow numbers were up 190,000 head from a year ago, taking the current herd size to a 30+ year high.
- California has the most cows, and Wisconsin is home to the most dairy farms. But over the past few years, states like South Dakota and Kansas have been in growth mode as new dairy processing capacity moves into those regions. Nationwide, milk output has climbed to nearly 20.0 billion pounds per month.
- The average American consumes 650 pounds of dairy products each year. That has changed dramatically in the last 30 years. Back in 1975, USDA recorded that Americans were consuming 539 pounds of dairy on a milk-fat basis.
- How Americans consume dairy has also changed over the last few decades. In 1975, U.S. consumers drank more of their dairy, taking in 247 pounds of fluid milk per year. That total has slid to 127 pounds of fluid milk.
- Americans are eating their dairy products instead. Fifty years ago, cheese consumption was less than 20 pounds per person. Today, Americans have doubled their annual per capita cheese intake to 41.9 pounds. Cottage cheese consumption has also climbed to 2.4 pounds per person, the highest volume since 2009.
- In all, the nation’s dairy industry supports more than 3 million jobs and generates $198 billion in wages. According to IDFA’s Dairy Delivers® report, dairy’s overall economic impact is worth $779 billion annually.
- Celebrate America’s great dairy industry this month by visiting a dairy farm, hosting a cheese tasting with friends or enjoying an extra scoop or two of ice cream!
Today’s Special
- Summertime is the perfect time for a sweet ice cream treat. U.S. ice cream production tends to pick up during the Spring and Summer months. USDA’s latest data showed regular ice cream production at 67.0 million gallons in April, up 5.5% year-over-year. Meanwhile, low-fat ice cream production reached 37.8 million gallons, down almost a percent from last April. California produced the most ice cream, followed by New York and Ohio.
- America’s love for ice cream is nearly universal. According to IDFA’s biannual National Ice Cream and Frozen Novelty Trends Survey conduction in partnership with Morning Consult, an overwhelming 97% of respondents said they like or love ice cream, highlighting the category’s enduring appeal across generations.
- Classic flavors continue to resonate, but there were some shake-ups in American’s favorite variety. In the 2026 survey, chocolate ranked as the top flavor choice (38%), while butter pecan climbed to second place (27%). Vanilla, the previous favorite, fell to third place, earning votes from 25% of ice cream eaters. When it comes to toppings, hot fudge, whipped cream and caramel sauce topped the list.
- Flavor continues to drive purchase decisions, though some shoppers are paying closer attention to what’s in their ice cream. While 89% of consumers cite flavor as a very important or somewhat important consideration, about a third of adults are interested in ingredients and nutritional information as well, and that is an even bigger focal point for Millennials.
- The simplicity of a bowl of ice cream at home stood out among ice cream occasions. More than half of consumers (58%) say home is their favorite place to enjoy ice cream. Still, one in five prefer visiting an ice cream shop, underscoring the importance of both retail and foodservice channels.
- Ice cream’s connection to nostalgia remains a key part of its appeal. Survey participants ranked neighborhood ice cream trucks as their most “American” ice cream memory (29% of responses), followed by birthday celebrations featuring ice cream cake (21%), trips to the local ice cream shop (20%) and sharing ice cream with family (20%). These responses reinforce the category’s role in creating memorable experiences that don’t melt away.