What would a sweltering summer day be like without an occasional stop at the local ice cream parlor for a couple of scoops?Can you imagine eating piping hot chocolate cookies without a frosty glass of milk?Imagine sipping a buttery glass of chardonnay without a couple of pieces of aged cheddar.Every day in this great country of ours we have the opportunity to partake of these wholesome, nutritious dairy products; but if there were no dairy farmers, dairy cows or dairy industry, there would be none of these tasty treats. Dairy products remain a major source of nutrients in our daily diets. If they’re not, they should be.For example, to find another source for the 300 milligrams of calcium found in either an eight-ounce glass of milk, a cup of yogurt or 1 ½ ounces of natural cheese, the average person would have to graze on eight cups of spinach, six cups of pinto beans or two and one half cups of broccoli, according to the Midwest Dairy Association.The primary nutrients found in milk and other dairy products are calcium, vitamins A and D, carbohydrates, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin and high-quality proteins.For most Americans, eating healthy, nutritious dairy products is simple.