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Home > BizTimes Daily > Archives > May 2, 2008
Wisconsin's specialty cheese market is booming
Published May 2, 2008 - BizTimes Daily
Gov. Jim Doyle today announced that Wisconsin's specialty cheese production in 2007 rose 3 percent from the previous year, setting a new record. Specialty cheese totaled 399 million pounds and accounted for 16 percent of the state's total cheese production.
"Growing Wisconsin's great dairy industry is a top priority," Doyle said. "Everyone knows where the best cheese comes from. Our dairy industry and farm families are world famous for producing the best cheese. I want to thank Wisconsin's cheesemakers for all they do to keep our economy strong."
According to a report released today by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, 83 of the state's 124 cheese plants manufacture at least one type of specialty cheese, up 3 plants.
The most popular specialty cheese was Feta, up 9 percent from the year before. Asiago, blue, Hispanic types, parmesan wheel and specialty provolone were other popular varieties.
Last year, Wisconsin launched a bipartisan Next Generation Agriculture Plan, a strategic investment to prepare Wisconsin farms and dairy plants for the future. The plan includes new initiatives totaling more than $33 million to move the dairy and agriculture industry forward by providing more resources to modernize and innovate, capture new markets and seize new green opportunities.
Since 2004, Wisconsin's dairy processors have invested an estimated $500 million to modernize; opened 34 new dairy plants and expanded 54 more. Two more specialty dairy plants are poised to open in the next few weeks.
