November 17, 2021, will mark the first annual National Butter Day. Established by Dinner Bell Creamery®, National Butter Day is dedicated to celebrating butter as a food, appreciating butter’s long history, and honoring the storied tradition of buttermaking in the U.S.
“The U.S. makes some of the best butter in the world, much of it produced right here in the Midwest. That alone is worth celebrating,” says Marshall Reece, Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), the dairy farmer-owned cooperative that launched Dinner Bell Creamery in 2019. “Then when you add in all the delicious ways to enjoy butter, you quickly realize one day to celebrate is barely enough!”
According to legend, butter was discovered by accident some 9,000 years ago when a lonely Persian goatherd transported milk in animal-skin pouches along a bumpy road. As the milk sloshed back and forth it turned into butter. When the goatherd discovered the churned milk, he thought the milk was ruined. One taste-test later and… the rest is history.
Today, the average American eats 6.3 pounds, or 25 sticks, of cow’s milk butter every year. Butter is a key ingredient in a variety of cuisines and is an essential ingredient in classic American baking. Butter is a staple food in most households, especially during the holiday baking season.
"The U.S. is a global leader in butter production, but we rank 24th in butter consumption per person," Reece said. "I see that as a challenge — we've got some catching up to do."
Americans are encouraged to celebrate National Butter Day by purchasing U.S.-made butter, cooking and baking with butter, and seeking out butter-rich treats. National Butter Day is being celebrated on social media with the hashtag: #NationalButterDay.
About Dinner Bell Creamery
Dinner Bell Creamery is a dairy farmer-owned cooperative headquartered in New Ulm, Minn. Dinner Bell’s award-winning cheese and butter is sold across the Midwest. The dairy farm families of Dinner Bell take pride in caring for their animals, being stewards of the land, and supporting their communities. AMPI launched Dinner Bell Creamery to bring the quality and experience of 50 years of partnership between dairy farm families and skilled buttermakers and cheesemakers to home cooks.
