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Article: No whey!: California slices into Wisconsin's spot as country's big cheese
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- December 12, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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COLBY, Wis. -- Wisconsin, which proudly calls itself "America's
Dairyland" and embraces all things cheese, is not ready to become a
second-rate cheese power.
California is set to become the nation's top cheese producer as
early as next year, but Wisconsin says quality is more important
than quantity.
"We still have the best cheese," says Mary Deheck, who often
makes a trip to this central Wisconsin cheese mecca to stock up. She
buys 100 pounds per year.
Last year, California made 2.1 billion pounds of cheese, while
Wisconsin produced 2.4 billion. Given the production trend, it is
only a matter of time before California becomes the big cheese.
But Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board ...