March 14, 2025--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. per capita consumption of dairy products reached a record-tying 661 pounds per person in 2023, the last year for which data are available. Although fluid milk consumption has declined over recent years, cheese and butter consumption surpassed all previous records, averaging 6.5 pounds of butter and 42.3 pounds of cheese per person in 2023. Capitalizing on this are U.S. dairy producers, which represent more than just cows on a farm, but cutting-edge factories to produce a range of milk products. Industrial Info is tracking nearly $12 billion in current and planned spending at U.S. dairy plants.