Michigan Dairy Farmers Celebrated for Contributions to McDonald's Supply Chain

On Monday, McDonald's of Michigan held a celebration in Westphalia to recognize the vital role of Michigan dairy farmers during National Dairy Month. The event was attended by elected officials, dairy industry leaders, agricultural advocates, and local McDonald's owner-operators. It provided attendees with insights into modern dairy farming and the partnerships that help bring Michigan-grown ingredients to McDonald's restaurants.

Michigan dairy farmers are integral to McDonald's supply chain, with the company purchasing more than 7 million gallons of milk from local suppliers in 2023. This includes contributions from individual farms such as Jem-Lot Dairy. In total, McDonald's reported spending over $421 million within Michigan's supply chain, with more than $285 million allocated to ingredients sourced directly from Michigan producers.

The dairy industry is a significant component of Michigan's economy, contributing an estimated $15.7 billion. The state ranks first in the nation for milk production per cow and sixth in total milk production, maintaining approximately 460,000 dairy cows.

The event began at 11:30 a.m. and was covered live by News 10, with a livestream available on the News 10+ app. This coverage aimed to provide a comprehensive view of the celebration and its focus on local agricultural achievements.

The recognition of Michigan's dairy farmers underscores the importance of local agriculture in national supply chains and highlights the state's leading role in dairy production.