Watch Out Wisconsin!
California is doing its best to take over the cheese market. The AP reports that with its abundant supply of milk and the nationwide demand for cheese, California could soon pass Wisconsin “to become the nation’s top cheese producer.”
In last year alone, California cheese producers created over 2.14 billion pounds of cheese. That amount constitutes almost a quarter of the cheese supply for the United States. In comparison, Wisconsin produces 2.4 billion pounds of cheese each year.
One sign of the trend is that the world’s largest single site cheese-making operation is in Central California’s town of Modesto. The Hilmar Cheese Company produces more than a million pounds of Monterey Jack, Cheddar and Mozzarella cheeses. There are small companies that are finding success, as well.
While California industry officials say it’s just a matter of time until California passes up Wisconsin in cheese production, Wisconsin isn’t giving up so easily. One Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board spokesman said: “This is not something that we got into over the last 20 years or so. It’s been a big part of our past and will continue to be a big part of our future.”
