The 7 States That Produce the Most Cheese

Cheese is very popular all over the world because cheese, arguably of course, is delectable. Billions upon billions of pounds of cheese are produced globally. In the US, over 10 billion pounds of cheese are produced. Currently, the European Union is the world’s largest producer of cheese, followed by the United States. But when it comes to the US, which states produce the most cheese? Let’s take a look at the seven states that produce the most cheese.

Wisconsin

When someone mentions cheese, one would think of Wisconsin. After all, Wisconsinites are called cheeseheads and Wisconsin isn’t called “America’s Dairyland” just for giggles. Dairy farms started to pop up in the state around the mid-1800s. The first commercial cheese factory was constructed in 1841 by Anne Pickett. Ever since then, they have been leaders in cheese production. There are now over 1,500 cheese factories throughout the state with more than 600 varieties of cheese. Wisconsin produces roughly 25% of all US cheese.

California

California is the second largest producer of cheese in the country. The state is also the largest milk producer in the country. Almost half of the milk in California goes to make cheese. In the state, there are more than 50 cheese makers and they produce more than 250 cheese varieties. Over the past few decades, California has increased the production of dairy products — mainly milk and cheese — in a drastic way. The industry even rolled out commercials to advertise their milk and cheese in the 1990s and 2000s.

Idaho

You may think that Idaho is famous for its potatoes, but they are becoming well-known for its dairy products and cheese, as well. Over the past few years, Idaho has increased dairy production. There are more than 600,000 milking cows and more than 500 family-owned dairy farms throughout the state. The main milk-producing region in the state is located in the Magic Valley area of Twin Falls, ID.

New Mexico

It’s a burgeoning industry in New Mexico. There are more than 100 licensed dairy herds throughout the state. When it comes to milk, they rank ninth, but they are number four in the production of cheese. One would not expect New Mexico to be on the list, but the reality of the matter is that New Mexico relies heavily on the dairy industry. It has added 4.45 billion dollars to the state’s economy. Furthermore, New Mexico produced 8 billion pounds of milk in 2020.

New York

The New York dairy industry began in the mid-1800s. It was an industry full of life and vigor. New York cheese exports were through the roof, especially cheddar. Today, there are over 3,500 dairy farms in the state of New York, where they make all types of dairy products. The state is the leading producer of yogurt with over 700 million pounds made every year. They are also number one in cottage cheese production.

Minnesota

The state of Minnesota is Wisconsin’s neighbor, which makes sense that the state would produce a lot of dairy. Minnesota has roughly about 445,000 cows and 2,400 farms spread out throughout the entire state. Over the past few decades, Minnesota has increased its production of dairy and cheese. One of the oldest dairy farms in Minnesota, Bongards Creameries, produces about one-fourth of the state’s cheese production.

South Dakota

South Dakota may be the site of Mount Rushmore, but the state is known for more than just that. In recent years, South Dakota dairy farmers have been put to work to revitalize the state’s economy with an increase in cheese production. The state is now in the top 10 largest cheese producers in the nation. There are seven cheese plants in the state, each making millions of pounds of cheese. 

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are the seven states that produce the most cheese. These states are located all over the country and are each unique in their own way. The two most popular cheese-producing states are Wisconsin and California. Wisconsinites are called Cheeseheads for a reason. Being thankful for these states is a smart thing because if it wasn’t for the farmers in these states, there wouldn’t be much cheese to delight yourselves with at parties.

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