Opinion: This National Cheese Day, appreciate what is powered by dairy, driven by cheese

On National Cheese Day, it is worth pausing — between bites — to appreciate the quiet powerhouse that turns Midwestern milk into mortgages paid, schools funded and small towns kept whole.

Cheese manufacturing has become one of the most important economic engines across the Upper Midwest dairy sector and a cornerstone of the broader U.S. dairy economy. Roughly 90% of milk produced within the Upper Midwest Federal Milk Marketing Order is processed into cheese, which is to say: in our corner of the country, milk grows up and gets a job. That job supports thousands of farm families, processors, rural communities and tens of thousands of direct jobs. In 2025, cheese production across Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa totaled approximately 5.481 billion pounds, up 2.4% from the prior year. Together, these four states accounted for roughly 37% of all U.S. cheese production. American-style cheeses such as Cheddar, Colby and Jack represent roughly 40% of regional output, while another 40% is tied to Italian-style production, primarily mozzarella — the cheese that, more than any other, has made pizza night a constitutional right. Hispanic-style cheese production, meanwhile, remains one of the fastest-growing segments of the market, nearly doubling over the past decade.

The importance of cheese goes far beyond the dairy farm. Cheese production represents the single largest use of U.S. milk and anchors a supply chain that stretches from rural communities to global consumers. The Upper Midwest has strengthened its position as a major hub for cheese processing investment and high-protein dairy ingredient manufacturing, with more than $1 billion invested in cheese and whey expansion projects since 2023. That is a lot of capital betting that America is not, in fact, going to stop eating cheese any time soon. Major additions from Valley Queen, Bel Brands, Bongards and Agropur are expanding production capacity by a combined almost 10 million pounds of milk a day intake and supporting rural economic growth. These investments are also increasing production of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, milk protein isolate and casein that are increasingly used in sports nutrition, medical nutrition and high-protein consumer foods. Rising consumer focus on protein consumption, including broader use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, has accelerated demand for protein-enhanced dairy products that help consumers maintain muscle mass and improve nutrition. The pharmacy may be shrinking appetites, but it is also, paradoxically, growing the market for what is left on the plate.

Across Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa combined, the dairy sector generates an estimated economic impact approaching $85 billion annually and supports nearly 192,000 jobs tied to farming, dairy processing and related industries. In many communities, cheese plants serve as economic anchors, with strong job multiplier effects that support local businesses, schools, infrastructure and multi-generational family operations. In some cases, an additional two jobs are created for every direct cheese or dairy farm job.

Exports are also becoming increasingly important to the future competitiveness of the U.S. cheese industry. USDA estimates show U.S. cheese exports reached approximately 1.33 billion pounds in 2025, up nearly 20% from 2024. Cheese exports now account for roughly 9% of total U.S. cheese production, compared to just 3% to 4% during the early 2010s. Mexico remains the leading export destination for U.S. cheese, accounting for roughly one-third of export volume and approximately $966 million in export value during 2025. Continued growth in export markets is helping support milk prices, expand processing investment, strengthen America's agricultural trade position and create long-term opportunities for dairy farmers and cheese manufacturers across the Upper Midwest. The world is eating more cheese, and the Upper Midwest is happy to oblige.

Cheese is far more than a dairy product. It is an economic engine that strengthens rural America, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, and helps position the United States as a growing global leader in dairy exports. From family farms to world markets, the continued success of America's cheese industry remains critical to the future of U.S. agriculture and rural communities. So on Cheese Day, by all means, raise a slice. Behind every wedge is a farmer who got up before dawn, a processor who turned milk into something that lasts, a trucker who moved it down the road, and a small town that is still standing because of all three. That is worth celebrating, and, frankly, worth seconds!

Tim Trotter is CEO of the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative.