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.
Fewer cheeses, more direct sales
Industry survey data shows specialty makers producing fewer varieties but selling more of it themselves. We look at why that trade-off is showing up now.
Read postWhat the cheesemonger credential actually tests
Certified Cheesemonger is the federation's counter-side credential, and members keep asking what's actually on it. Here is what the exam covers and who tends to sit it.
Read postThe counter that started keeping tasting notes
A retail member started writing down what customers actually said about a wheel before it sold out, and turned three years of scrawled notes into a case that…
Read postA deadline coming and a dispute resolved
A federal margin-protection signup window is closing in three weeks and a long-running cross-border trade dispute went the industry's way. Neither fixes your feed bill, but both are…
Read postThe swing your price sheet missed
Wholesale cheese and butter prices climbed most of January and then dropped hard in the last week. If your price sheet only moves once a quarter, this is…
Read postWhat the HACCP credential actually covers
With compliance thresholds shifting this month, we're getting more questions about the Food Safety & HACCP Certificate than usual. Here's what it does and doesn't cover.
Read postThe exemption that won't stay put
A federal food-safety compliance threshold is phasing in more small producers this month, and it's a reminder that the exemption your creamery has relied on isn't permanent.
Read postWhat your margin actually tells you
A volatile commodity month is exactly when a real pricing model earns its keep. Here's what the Pricing & Margin for Specialty Cheese course actually covers.
Read postTwo dates worth clearing your calendar for
A Seattle workshop on export readiness and a virtual cheese-and-cider pairing session both land in February. Here's who each one is actually for.
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