There are approximately 138,000 milk cows in Indiana producing 2.2 billion pounds of milk annually. Indiana has 3,200 milk cow operations. Milk is a popular beverage, not only for its flavor, but also for its nutritional value. Milk and other dairy products, such as cottage cheese and yogurt, make a significant contribution to the nation's supply of nutrients.
Ice cream is big business in Indiana.
In 1998, ice cream production in Indiana ranked second among all states, with a total of 63,951,000 gallons. Indiana produces 7.4 percent of all ice cream consumed in the U.S. Edy's Grand Ice Cream is the largest ice cream manufacturer in the world and is located in Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne facility is capable of producing 50 million gallons of ice cream annually.