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Farmers Union is asking about cheese

Wisconsin Farmers Union is asking farmers and consumers about the Wisconsin Cheese label.

A Farmers Union online survey is asking six questions including how much of the milk in a Wisconsin Cheese should come from Wisconsin dairy farms.  Some Wisconsin cheesemakers regularly haul in milk from other states like Michigan, where there are fewer processors.

Farmers Union State President Darin Von Ruden says farmers, cheesemakers, and consumers take pride in Wisconsin’s dairy heritage, and they want to be sure the Wisconsin Cheese label is being used to its fullest potential.

The label identifies cheeses made in Wisconsin and is used by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin to promote Wisconsin brands through the mandatory checkoff assessment.  Lizzie Duffy with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin tells Brownfield they’re not commenting on the survey at this time.

Wisconsin is the nation’s top cheese producer, making more than 3.2 billion pounds in 2016.  USDA says nearly one-third of Wisconsin’s production is Mozzarella cheese.   California is second with more than 2.5 billion pounds.