Friday Food Facts

Cantaloupe is one of America’s most popular melons. In Arizona, we rank second in the production of these melons. Grown in the spring and fall, they’re a good source of a variety of vitamins and minerals.

In Spain, it’s common to pour chocolate milk over cereal rather than regular milk. Arizona’s dairy industry encourages you to drink chocolate milk as a recovery drink after a workout. And no, chocolate milk does not come from brown cows!

Today in Arizona, we have nearly 200,000 dairy cows producing milk for Arizona families. And, 97% of the milk you get from the dairy case in Arizona grocery stores come from Arizona dairy cows!

Did you know …Spinach consumption in the U.S. rose 33% after the Popeye comic strip became a hit in the 1930s.

Spinach has a high nutritional value and is extremely rich in antioxidants, especially when fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled. It is a rich source of vitamins A, C, E and K and high in magnesium, folate, iron, calcium, potassium and other important minerals. The popular omega-3 fatty acids are found in spinach too.

Maybe that’s why Arizona grows more than $50 million worth of this wonderfully nutritious and tasty spinach each year. Well, now you know.

America’s favorite fiber is cotton. Arizona cotton farmers are credited with growing the highest quality grade of cotton around. And, despite much fewer acres planted in cotton, this crop remains our largest agriculture export commodity in the state bringing more than $500 million into Arizona.

Americans love cheese. Did you know that tangy piece of Sharp Cheddar Cheese made from Arizona milk that you love so much is aged 6 to 9 months?