Every state in the United States is known for something. Beaches in California, for example, or craft beer in Colorado. For Wisconsin, that something is cheese. And one thing is clear on even the most brief visit to America’s Dairyland: no trip is complete without indulging in all things cheesy.
Wisconsin makes more cheese than anywhere else in the country. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the state is responsible for 25 percent of total cheese production in the US. Sure, there are the facilities that make cheese for massive pizza and other restaurant chains here. But concentration leads to specialization, and the true heart of Wisconsin cheese is the smaller, more specialized producers. Just over a quarter of Wisconsin’s cheese, or about 930 million pounds, is classified as specialty cheese, according to the USDA.