Blog
Certification, education, advocacy, events, industry news and the members behind them — written by the Federation, for the people who make, age, sell and buy the cheese.
What the Certified Cheesemonger credential actually covers
Certified Cheesemonger is our most requested credential from members on the retail side. Here's what it tests, who it's for, and why counter staff keep asking about it.
Read postWhat a margin course actually changes
Pricing & Margin for Specialty Cheese opens its Wheel cohort this summer. We asked what the course covers and why so many members put it off for years…
Read postThis year's farm bill and the dairy safety net
A new federal farm bill is taking shape, and members keep asking whether the dairy margin safety net survives it. Here's what's actually being discussed and how to…
Read postCheese prices slide into a strange summer
Wholesale cheddar has fallen sharply since March, and export volumes are soft too. We look at what's actually driving the drop and what it means for your next…
Read postThe apprentice who started reading the spot market
A second-year apprentice at a small Midwest creamery started tracking wholesale cheddar prices on her own. Her head cheesemaker says it's changed how she thinks about her craft.
Read postYour cave in the first real heat
Late May is usually when a small cave's cooling and humidity system meets its first real stress test of the year. A short course exists for exactly this…
Read postSeven weeks of a cheaper block
Wholesale block cheddar has slid for seven straight weeks and hit its lowest point in nearly two years. Here's what a milk-heavy spring means for your margin.
Read postWhat the Advanced Affinage Certificate actually trains
Rind management, cave environment control, and maturation planning across styles — what the credential covers, who it's for, and what it doesn't replace.
Read postThe aging rule back under review
The federal 60-day aging requirement for raw-milk cheese is getting fresh scrutiny. Here's what our raw-milk members are being asked to weigh in on, and why.
Read post