As we prepare to enter 2023, the U.S. dairy industry continues to outperform against the backdrop of a challenging, volatile global economy. We learned recently from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that per capita consumption of dairy grew by 12.4 pounds per person in 2021. The average American consumed 667 pounds of dairy on a milkfat basis in 2021 versus 539 pounds in 1975.
Times have obviously changed over the past five decades. The dairy industry continues to be shaped and reshaped by constant innovation in response to shifting consumer preferences. As the industry rapidly evolves and transitions, our policies, and priorities must evolve to meet the opportunities of today and tomorrow.