View from the Cab: Raise that glass

By Kent Casson

Raise that glass of milk. Here’s to June Dairy Month!

I recently sat down with Monica Nyman of the St. Louis District Dairy Council to talk all about the special month and what it means.

There are so many milk varieties at the grocery store these days and we all know milk is a nutritious choice for our daily diet, providing key nutrients. Nutrients in milk include calcium for strong bones, vitamin D to help with calcium absorption, protein for muscle building, potassium for regulating blood pressure and vitamins A and B12 for overall health.

Not many foods offer this many nutritional benefits in one serving.

Different kinds of milk include conventional and ultrapasteurized. Conventional is what most people think of first – the gallon in the refrigerated section in a grocery store. This is pasteurized at a lower temperature compared to the other milks. The process of pasteurization is used to kill any potential harmful bacteria while preserving nutrients.

Ultrapasteurized milk is heated to a higher temperature for a shorter time, allowing the milk to have a longer shelf life. While conventional milk has expiration dates within one to two weeks, the dates for ultrapasteurized milk are more than two months away.

Shelf-stable milk is packaged in a special container and has been processed at a high temperature which allows it to be stored at room temperature until it is opened. This is convenient for those who lack refrigerated storage and need to stock up for emergencies, travel or simply for convenience. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and consumed within about a week – just like regular milk.

Lactose-free milk is real milk without the lactose. Lactase enzyme is added to help break down the milk sugar, making it easier to digest for people with lactose intolerance. It still contains the same nutrients as all milk but doesn’t cause the digestive discomfort that some people experience with regular milk.

A recent article in Dairy Herd Management indicated sales of dairy milk increased two percent overall in 2024 to $17.1 billion. This is according to research firm Circana. There was also an increase in the amount of whole milk being consumed as whole milk consumption rose 3.2 percent. Plant-based dairy alternative consumption, such as oat or almond beverages, decreased 5.9 percent.

If someone doesn’t enjoy drinking a cup of milk, they could add chocolate or strawberry syrup, instant coffee, honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract or maple syrup to make it more flavorful.

Go grab that milk out of the fridge. It’s waiting for you.