FIAT FREAKOUT SPOTLIGHT
Carr Valley Cheese Company
According to The Wisconsin Farmer, the Badger State has over 6,000 registered dairies, more than any other state in the Union. The dairy business contributes over 50 billion dollars annually to the Wisconsin economy.
As you might expect from a state with a dairy herd of over 1.25 million cows, they make a lot of cheese. So much so, if Wisconsin was its own country, it would be the 4th largest cheese producer in the world!
Freakout is giving you a chance to visit a cheese factory Wednesday: the Carr Valley Cheese Company in La Valle, WI.
Like most Wisconsin dairy operations, Carr Valley is family owned. They have been in business since 1883. Again, as you might expect, when you do something for that long, you get pretty good at it. Tasting Table, a foodie website since 2006 names them one of Wisconsin's 12 top cheesemakers. USA Today ranks Carr Valley on their Top 10 Wisconsin cheesemakers.
Over the years, Carr Valley Cheese Company has won multiple international cheese awards. Their master cheesemaker, Sid Cook (the Cook family owns Carr Valley) is considered the top fromager in both Wisconsin and the US.
Should you opt to tour the factory, you will be treated to an up close look at the cheesemaking process. TIP: Go early. If you get to the factory by 8:30AM, you get the best overfall experience.
Along with the cheesemaking tour, you are treated to a sampler of cheeses, including their world famous cheddar. Of course, should you want to take some of Wisconsin's most famous agricutlural product back home with you, Carr Valley also features a store stocked with up to 75 different types of their cheeses.
While Jennifer Brenner and I won't be arriving til later Wednesday, we will most certainly be visiting Carr Valley while we are at Freakout. And we will DEFINITELY figure out a way to carry some smoked cheddar and who knows what other kinds of cheese (hopefully, some squeaky curds) back to Texas with us.
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