More than half of the nation’s specialty cheese is crafted in Wisconsin, according to new data presented by Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA/NASS).
Specialty varieties now make up 28.3% of Wisconsin’s total cheese production, a growing share that rose 7.6% over the previous year.
“This growth in specialty …
Research on aged cheeses such as cheddar, gouda and Swiss has shown many health benefits.
As consumers search for high quality, nutritious and locally sourced food products to serve their families, artisan cheese can be a great choice. By definition, artisan cheeses are natural cheeses produced in smaller batches from fresh milk with minimal ingredients. …
When clients used to ask John Crawford if he thought cottage cheese could make a comeback, his answer was an emphatic: “No.”
“Part of it was texture, part of it was – it was a diet food, it was your grandparents’ food,” said Crawford, SVP of client insights for dairy at the market research firm …
Wisconsin cheesemakers earn three Top 10 honors and sweep multiple categories.
Wisconsin cheesemakers command the spotlight at the 2025 American Cheese Society (ACS) Judging & Competition, taking home more than one-quarter of all awards and earning three spots in North America’s Top 10.
“Every award represents a story of excellence and dedication, and we …
Faces on product packaging leverage our brain’s innate preference for human features, boosting brand recognition and trust. But they sometimes create unexpected moral dilemmas at consumption time.
Some smiles are not what they seem.
A certain soul song from the 70s warned us about that. And while it spoke of people, the idea lingers when …
The pandemic shifted how consumers get meals, order items and more, in turn influencing packaging. Some changes in manufacturing have stuck, from automating some tasks to adapting supply management.
Five years ago this year, the World Health Organization classified COVID-19 as a pandemic and the U.S. declared a public health emergency. The packaging industry, like others, …
Nestlé and IBM Research unveil a generative AI tool designed to accelerate the discovery of sustainable high-barrier food packaging materials.
Nestlé has partnered with IBM Research to create an artificial intelligence (AI) tool capable of designing new, sustainable high-barrier packaging materials that protect food and reduce waste.
The collaboration, led by Nestlé R&D and IBM …
Garves one of only two goat cheese specialists to earn this distinction.
After two decades of dedication to the craft, LaClare Creamery’s Rob Garves has been named one of the 2025 graduates of the prestigious Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Program, specializing in chèvre. This distinction is especially rare, as the program has traditionally recognized cheesemakers …
Members of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) applauded Governor Tony Evers and legislative leaders on the bipartisan passage and signing of the 2025-2027 biennial state budget into law. The bill includes more than half a billion dollars of funding, championed by WCMA, to support dairy innovation, boost dairy exports, address food insecurity, and strengthen the food supply chain through key infrastructure and workforce support.
“Wisconsin’s dairy industry …
Mexican blends and aged cheese trending upward.
With adjectives like stretchy, cheesy and crumbly, cheese has several textures, while flavors range from salty or sharp to nutty or creamy. From mozzarella used as a pizza topping to ricotta cheese in a lasagna to melty cheddar on top of a chargrilled burger, the superlatives around cheese …