Fun butter facts abound in this article about butter’s big comeback. Americans consume 4.3 pounds of butter per person a year, and the rate has been growing at 6% a year since our lean, mean 1980’s. But years ago, when we actually worked it off in the fields, it was 16 pounds per person, which is one pound less than New Zealanders consume nowadays. Land O Lakes is the only national butter brand. We’re eating more cheese, cream cheese, and ice cream. And butter prices are rising with the demand.