McDonald's in Michigan Celebrates National Dairy Month at the Jem-Lot Dairy Family Farm

According to McDonald's, in 2023 the company's system purchased more than 7 million gallons of milk (about 26.5 million liters) from Michigan suppliers, including farms such as Jem-Lot Dairy. Overall, the company estimates that more than $421 million was spent within the state's supply chain, including over $285 million on ingredients from Michigan producers.

According to figures presented at the event, Michigan ranks first in the United States for milk production per cow and sixth for total milk production. The state has about 460,000 dairy cows, annual production exceeds 12.5 billion pounds of milk (about 5.7 million tonnes), and the dairy industry's contribution to the state economy is estimated at $15.7 billion.

Beyond dairy products, according to McDonald's, in 2023 the company purchased 3.8 million pounds of butter (about 1.7 thousand tonnes) from Michigan suppliers, as well as significant volumes of apples, beef, corn, cucumbers, eggs, pork and soybeans.

As Melissa Gerharter, CEO of the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, noted, National Dairy Month is an opportunity to recognize the farm families who produce dairy products every day while caring for their animals and natural resources. McDonald's Owner/Operator Shawn Saputo said the company sources ingredients from Michigan farmers and suppliers and that its relationships with producers support local businesses and jobs. Event attendees also toured the farm and learned about modern dairy production practices.