With 25% of the nation’s total cheese production, Wisconsin maintained its ranking as the nation’s top cheese-producing state in 2023.
At 942 million pounds, specialty cheese accounted for 27% of Wisconsin’s total cheese production. This was an increase of 13.7 million pounds from 2022. Ninety-four of the state’s 117 cheese plants manufactured at least one type of specialty cheese during 2023.
Wisconsin cheesemakers are known for offering a variety of high-quality specialty cheeses. A specialty cheese is a value-added product that commands a premium price.
According to the Wisconsin Specialty Cheese Institute, the nature of specialty cheese is derived from one or more unique qualities — such as exotic origin, particular processing or design, limited supply, unusual application or use and extraordinary packaging or channel of sale. The common denominator is its very high quality.
