Grant-Funded Programming
In October 2021, WASCA received word that we had received a Farmers Market Promotion Program grant award from the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service. WASCA’s Grant Committee had submitted an application for the grant in June 2021.
According to the USDA website:
The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing, coordinating, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, online sales or other direct producer-to-consumer (including direct producer-to-retail, direct producer-to-restaurant and direct producer-to-institutional marketing) market opportunities.
In our application, we framed our project with the following executive summary:
Washington may not be “America’s Dairyland,” but it is a cheese state. There are 53 licensed cheesemakers in Washington. This number includes farmstead cheesemakers who are dairy farmers, artisan cheesemakers who purchase milk for value‐added cheesemaking, and industrial‐level creameries. Most Washington cheesemakers produce cheeses on small or medium scale, selling less than $250,000 annually. Many of their cheeses are not available in stores, as they sell exclusively from farm stands or farmer’s markets. The Washington State Cheesemakers Association (WASCA) was founded in 2015 to support cheesemakers through education, promotion, and collaboration. FMPP funds would assist WASCA in efforts to educate consumers about the variety and quality of cheeses made in Washington. Many consumers became conscious of the importance of their local food economy during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Our organization would like to build that momentum to help Washington cheesemakers expand their market reach and attract more customers.
This project will result in increased sales to cheesemakers and dairy farmers producing fluid cheese milk by way of: 1) Strengthening cheesemakers’ ability to draw long‐term sales by providing them educational trainings in food safety, regulations, and cheesemaking science; 2) Establishing a “Washington Cheese Month” celebrated with in‐person and virtual events to engage cheesemakers and farmers, consumers, and vendors; 3) Building a “Meet the Cheesemakers” campaign to connect consumers directly with cheesemakers via agritourism, festivals, educational seminars and tastings, and other communications; and 4) Developing a retail marketing campaign for Washington cheeses sold in grocery stores, including a cheesemonger education program and merchandise signage.
Our project has four objectives that must be completed by September 2024.
Objective 1:
Cheesemaker Education
In order to strengthen cheesemakers’ ability to draw repeat sales and sustain growth, provide educational training to increase cheesemaker food safety knowledge, regulatory understanding, cheesemaking skills, and business know‐how. These trainings will be held in‐person and virtually, and recorded sessions will be available online for subsequent viewing.
Objective 2:
Washington Cheese Month
In order to increase consumer knowledge of Washington cheeses, which still lags behind knowledge of domestic cheeses made in other regions, dedicate one month of every year to local cheese advocacy through Washington Cheese Month. This dedication will be supported by one large event, as well as retail and direct‐to‐consumer marketing promotions which will encourage consumers to try Washington cheeses and will celebrate the work of Washington cheesemakers and dairy farmers.
Objective 3:
Meet the Cheesemakers
In order to build relationships between cheesemakers and consumers, develop a series of smaller “Meet the Cheesemaker” events to take place over the course of three years in regions throughout the state that are home to a high density of licensed creameries (e.g., Whatcom, Skagit, Thurston, King, and Okanogan counties, etc.). Design these events so that consumers can chat with cheesemakers, sample their cheeses, and learn where to purchase those cheeses on a regular basis. Other local producers whose agricultural products (e.g., wine, beer, cider, preserves, etc.) pair well with cheese may also be included to help support the cheeses.
Aside from these official events, partner with regional organizations to execute the plan for Washington’s version of “The Hunt,” a state‐wide scavenger hunt styled after one developed in 2020 by the Vermont Cheese Council (VCC). The VCC has given WASCA the endorsement to create Washington’s own version of The Hunt. This event will be self‐guided and encourage participants to visit specific businesses, historical sites, and natural parks and attractions, and engage with communities in each region of the state. The Hunt will use WASCA’s “Find Washington Cheese” map as a base from which to guide consumers to visit creameries. This will also benefit agritourism, farm stands, and farmers markets, as well as smaller communities that are not usually host to larger festivals.
To ensure all cheesemakers are able to benefit from the additional promotion of the events in Objective 3 and Objective 4, a photographer will be retained to prepare photos and videos for those cheesemakers who do not currently have professional marketing materials. The photographer will travel to the creameries to photograph the cheeses, cheesemaking process, and farm or farm stand as applicable. The availability of photos and videos on the creameries’ websites, on WASCA’s website, and on supporting materials for events and promotions will provide an extra avenue for consumers to see who their local cheesemakers are and learn more about them.
Objective 4:
Retail Marketing Campaign
In order to encourage shoppers to choose local cheeses over domestic commodity or imported cheeses, facilitate a retail marketing campaign to connect grocery store shoppers with the local cheeses sold in larger stores’ retail cases. This campaign will place WASCA’s “Choose Washington Cheese” sticker on Washington‐made cheeses in those cases, with supporting messaging on table‐top signage, shelf talkers, and other merchandising.
This campaign to be supported by an education campaign for cheesemongers that will include trainings and educational seminars, as well as access to an archive of tasting notes and information about the local cheeses they carry. The educational seminars and the archive of tasting notes and cheese information are included in the development of this campaign.
Learn more about our initiatives.
View the introductory presentation given during our 2022 Annual Member Meeting or watch the meeting recording online to hear the presentation.
Current Initiatives
Classes & Events
Surveys & Feedback
Planning in Progress
Completed Events - 2022
Classes & Events
Food Safety Basics for Artisan Cheesemakers Food Safety Webinar
Courtesy of Dairy Farmers of Washington
Ongoing / self-paced
Online self-paced courses on Good Manufacturing Practices and How to Identify Hazards & Risks For Beginners. Offered to Washington Cheesemakers by Washington Dairy Farmers as an in-kind match for our USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant award.
Registration open now. / $49; free to WASCA members with code
Advanced Cheese Making Short Course
Courtesy of WSU Creamery
March 7-9, 2023 in Pullman, WA
Since 1986, the WSU Creamery has been presenting the Cheese Making Short Course. This course is designed for experienced cheese makers, supervisory, management, quality control and marketing personnel from commercial/industrial plants. Instruction is provided from leaders in the dairy production community. This is an advanced class and it is recommended that you have some experience in cheese making or have attended a basic cheese making class as a prerequisite.
Registration open now. / $925 before February 3; $1,000 after February 3
Pasteurization Workshop
Courtesy of WSU Creamery
April 25-27, 2023 in Pullman, WA
This 3-day class on pasteurization covers vat, basic HTST systems, and on the 3rd day HHST. Additional discussions on magnetic flow timed systems and systems with auxiliary equipment are included. Hands-on activities are conducted in the WSU Creamery Facilities. Course is suggested for plant operators, maintenance personnel, quality personnel, management and suppliers to the industry.
Registration open now. / $470 or $620 before March 24; $500 or $650 after March 24
Washington Cheese Month
June 2023
A 30-day celebration of the wealth of cheeses made in Washington state. Details to be released soon.
Surveys & Feedback
Grant Initiative Survey – Results
In January and February 2022, we surveyed a broad group of cheese enthusiasts, cheesemakers, industry businesses, and other interested parties to see what grant initiatives enjoyed the most support.
The most significant feedback we received from their responses is as follows:
- In the event planning category, 45% said they were not interested in volunteering to provide support for grant-funded programming
- In the education category, 45% were most interested in attending a food safety webinar presented by the Washington Dairy Farmers
- In the education category, 45% were interested in attending a cheesemakers-only Zoom happy hour with guest speakers (with a preference for Friday afternoons or evenings)
- In the education category, 36% were interested in a general cheese-community Zoom happy hour (with a preference for Friday afternoons or evenings)
- For planning Washington Cheese month, 64% were interested in sponsoring Washington cheese samples in an effort to educate state legislators about the Washington cheese industry and encourage them to support an official Washington Cheese Month
- For planning a Meet the Cheesemakers events series, 64% were most interested in attending or taking part in smaller “Meet the Cheesemaker” events in a farmers-market format with accompanying education sessions for attendees
- For planning a Meet the Cheesemakers events series, 36% were interested in attending or taking part in a Spring Cheese Festival in Woodinville in May
- For planning a Meet the Cheesemakers events series, 36% were most interested in attending or taking part in an educational event at a traveling Meet the Cheesemakers event
- 36% were interested in soliciting retailers to support Washington Cheese Month-related retail marketing campaign
- 36% were retailers who were interested in taking part in a Washington Cheese Month-related retail marketing campaign
- 46% were cheesemakers who were interested in having a photographer come to their creamery to take professional photos and videos
- 64% were most interested in events taking place in Seattle or King County
- 45% were most interested in events taking place in Bow or Skagit County
- 36% were tied as most interested in events taking place in Bellingham/Whatcom County, Woodinville, and Portland
- 36% were most interested in events taking place online only
- 45% of respondents were most interested in attending events as a ticket-holder
- 45% of respondents were most interested in volunteering at events
Washington Cheese Month Retailer Survey – Results
In May and June 2022, we surveyed retailers and distributors to get a sense of what the best month would be for annual Washington Cheese advocacy. Based on the results we received:
- June is the contender for Washington Cheese Month, with 60% of the vote; 20% of the vote went to “any month that isn’t September” and 20% went to September — however September is Oregon Cheese Month, so it is not under consideration.
- Among those responding, 80% said they are definitely interested in participating in 2023 Washington Cheese Month; 20% said they are “maybe” interested.
- Of the activities suggested for Washington Cheese Month, 100% of respondents said they want to offer sales promotions, 80% said they would provide educational materials to their cheesemongers, 60% were interested in a variety of other programming, including: regular-price information highlights of Washington cheeses, some kind of Washington Cheese box, bag, or collection for sale, “Washington cheese” branding for items in their store, Choose Washington Cheese stickers on cheeses for sale in their store, and having their staff participate in a cheesemonger education program.
- Only 20% of respondents said they would be interested in featuring cheesemaker highlights as part of an informational marketing campaign or participating in public-facing Washington Cheese events or classes.
Event Participation Survey
In March 2022, we surveyed cheese enthusiasts, folks in the industry, and anyone who wanted to learn more about cheese. The goal was to find out how they were feeling about in-person and virtual events.
The most significant feedback we received from their responses is as follows:
- 91% were interested in both indoor and outdoor events, regardless of masking requirements
- 91% were interested in attending a smaller “Meet the Cheesemakers” event following the format of a 90-minute seminar (featuring a guest speaker, a panel discussion with cheesemakers, and a guided tasting of their cheeses) followed by a 45-minute meet-and-greet with cheesemakers, priced at $30 per ticket
- 66% were equally interested in attending events in Spring 2022 as they would be in attending events in Fall 2022
- 83% were interested in attending the Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival in September 2022
- 50% were interested in attending the Cheese and Meat Festival in October 2022
- Interest in event locations was as follows: King County (83%); Skagit County (58%); Pierce and Whatcom counties (50% each); Okanogan, Thurston, and Yakima Counties (16% each); and Klickitat County (8%)
Planning in Progress
2023 Educational Offerings
PCQI Certification with Bates Consulting LLC; proposed for in-person training in Chehalis, WA, in February 2023.
Basic Plus Cheese Making Short Course at WSU Creamery. Dates TBA.
Food Safety Seminar with Washington Dairy Farmers: Cheesemakers, please let us know what topics are of interest.
Help us plan Washington Cheese Month!
The first-ever Washington Cheese Month will take place in June 2023!
We are looking for distributors and retailers to participate in a retail marketing campaign that month, as well as community members to participate in consumer-facing advocacy for local cheese. If you are interested in taking part, please reach out to WashingtonCheese[at]gmail[dot]com.
Photo Opportunity!
We are beginning to schedule visits for a photographer to come out and take pictures and videos at up to 35 creameries around the state. The service is paid for by the grant, so there is no cost to the creamery ($1,500 value). If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please send an email to WashingtonCheese[at]gmail.com and let us know!
Meet the Cheesemakers: Northwest Tour
Proposed schedule:
- July 22, 2022 – American Cheese Society Meet the Cheesemakers (Oregon Convention Center, Portland)
- September 24, 2022 – Thurston County (Olympia Center, Olympia)
- October 8, 2022 – Seattle Cheese & Meat Festival (McCaw Hall, Seattle)
- November 12, 2022 – Portland Cheese & Meat Festival (Left Bank Annex, Portland)
- December 10, 2022 – Whatcom County (Bellewood Farms, Lynden)
- September 2023 – Okanogan County (location TBA)
- October 2023 – Yakima County (location TBA)
- November 2023 – Skagit County (location TBA)
The idea: a 90-minute talk led by a guest speaker about cheesemaking and Washington cheese, featuring a panel discussion with 3-6 cheesemakers and a guided tasting of their cheeses, followed by a 45-minute meet-and-greet with cheese sales and conversation. Tickets sold will cover event-related costs not paid for by grant funds.
Completed Events - 2022
Pasteurization Workshop
WSU Creamery is offering this 3-day class on pasteurization that covers vat, basic HTST systems, and on the 3rd day HHST. Additional discussions on magnetic flow timed systems and systems with auxiliary equipment are included. Hands-on activities are conducted in the WSU Creamery Facilities. Course is suggested for plant operators, maintenance personnel, quality personnel, management and suppliers to the industry.
April 26-28
Pullman, WA
Cost is $500 or $650
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GMP and Food Safety Annual Refresher Training
Monday, June 20, 2022, 2:00-6:00 p.m.
Online; zoom link will be provided after registration. Registration fee: $49
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gmp-and-food-safety-annual-refresher-training-tickets-357303573607
Limited to 20 attendees.
The course is being offered through Bates Consulting LLC’s partnership with WASCA in support of our 2021 USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant award.
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Preventive Controls for Human Food Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Training
June 22, 2022 (9 am – 4:30 pm), June 23, 2022 (9 am – 4:30 pm), and June 24, 2022 (9 am – 4:30 pm)Appel Farms Cheese Shop
6605 Northwest Dr, Ferndale, WA 98248
To register, go to: https://www.eventbrite.
The course is being offered through Bates Consulting LLC’s partnership with WASCA in support of our 2021 USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant award.
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Meet the Cheesemakers: American Cheese Society Conference Event
Meet the Cheesemaker takes place during the ACS Annual Conference. The event enables producers of cheese and cultured dairy products to meet with and sample products to hundreds of key industry distributors, retailers, buyers, and food writers from throughout North America.
Because this year’s conference is so close to home, in Portland, Oregon, Washington is bringing a strong presence to this year’s events. Cheesemakers who will be present include Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, Cascadia Creamery, Ferndale Farmstead, and Twin Sisters Creamery. WASCA’s executive director, Courtney Johnson, will also be present to support the cheesemakers during the event.
July 22, 2022 – Portland, Oregon
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Retailer and Distributor Preview
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Open to all Attendees
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Meet the Cheesemakers: Thurston County
WASCA is proud to present the first event in a series of “Meet the Cheesemakers” seminars to be held around the state. This talk will feature a panel discussion with cheesemakers and a guided tasting of some of their cheeses. Following the 90-minute seminar, we will have a 30-minute meet-and-greet session with the cheesemakers.
Our Thurston County Meet the Cheesemakers event will put the spotlight on three goat creameries: Lost Peacock Creamery (Olympia, WA), Mountain Lodge Farm (Eatonville, WA), and Toboton Creek Farm (Yelm, WA). The seminar will be led by WASCA’s executive director, Courtney Johnson.
When: Saturday, September 24, 2022 – 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA 98501 – Multipurpose Room A
Cost: $20/person
Tickets were available online at Brown Paper Tickets.
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Seattle Cheese & Meat Festival
With the cancellation of the Washington Artisan Cheesemakers Festival and the King County Meet the Cheesemakers event, the 2022 Cheese & Meat Festival is the only cheese-focused festival taking place in King County this year. The Cheese & Meat Festival is an event that seeks to bring producers and consumers together in a relaxed and inspiring setting, offering opportunities for tasting, pairing, and purchasing items to take home for further exploration.
With this year’s severe labor shortages, WASCA was able to use grant funds to obtain sponsorships for 8 cheesemakers at the festival. The cheesemakers were not able to attend themselves but wanted to be represented to festival attendees, so two cheesemongers were present to help talk about the creameries, the cheeses, and the Washington cheese scene. The Washington Cheese sponsored table held 14 samples from 11 creameries in total, and 14 creameries sold 19 cheeses through a central point-of-sale system that was generously lent to WASCA by one of our business member companies. About 700 people attended this festival, which took place in two 2-hour tasting sessions.
When: Saturday, October 8, 2022. 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109
Cost: $85-$199/person
Tickets were available online at https://cheeseandmeatfestival.com/.
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Whatcom County Meet the Cheesemakers
WASCA is proud to present the second event in a series of “Meet the Cheesemakers” seminars to be held around the state. This talk will feature a panel discussion with cheesemakers and a guided tasting of some of their cheeses. Following the 90-minute seminar, we will have a 30-minute meet-and-greet session with the cheesemakers.
Our Whatcom County Meet the Cheesemakers event will put the spotlight on four cow’s milk creameries: Acme Farms Cheese (Acme, WA), Appel Farms (Ferndale, WA), Ferndale Farmstead (Ferndale, WA), and Twin Sisters Creamery (Ferndale, WA). The seminar will be led by WASCA’s executive director, Courtney Johnson.
When: Saturday, December 10, 2022, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Bellewood Farms & Distillery, 6140 Guide Meridian Rd, Lynden, WA 98264
Cost: $20/person
Tickets were available online through Brown Paper Tickets.
Planned initiatives in 2022, 2023, and 2024
Objective 1:
Cheesemaker Education
2023 + 2024 Food Safety & Nutrition Workshops
by Dairy Farmers of Washington
2023 PCQI Training
by Bates Consulting
2023 + 2024 Pasteurization Workshop
at WSU Creamery
2023 Basic Plus Cheese Making Short Course
at WSU Creamery
2023 + 2024 Advanced Cheese Making Short Course
at WSU Creamery
2024 FSMA Traceability Rule Training
by Bates Consulting
Completed
2022 Pasteurization Workshop
at WSU Creamery
(Held April 26-28, 2022)
Completed
2022 GMP/Food Safety Refresher, June 20, 2022
by Bates Consulting (online)
Completed
2022 PCQI Training, June 22-24, 2022
by Bates Consulting (in-person in Ferndale, WA)
Ongoing
Food Safety Basics for Artisan Cheesemakers Online Training
by Dairy Farmers of Washington
Objective 3: Meet the Cheesemakers
Bellingham Cheese + Beer Festival
Summer 2023
Location and date TBA
The Hunt State-Wide Scavenger Hunt
2023 + 2024
More information soon
Washington Cheese + Friends Passport Program
2023 + 2024
More information soon
Meet the Cheesemakers: Skagit County
2023
Location and date TBA
Meet the Cheesemakers: Okanogan County
2023
Location and date TBA
Meet the Cheesemakers: Yakima County
2023
Location and date TBA
Completed
Meet the Cheesemakers:
American Cheese Society Conference
Portland, OR – July 2022
Completed
Meet the Cheesemakers: Thurston County
Olympia Center, Olympia
September 24, 2022
Completed
Meet the Cheesemakers: Whatcom County
Bellewood Farms in Bellingham
December 10, 2022
Our Grant Partners
We were required to provide a 25% match to the federal funds we requested in our grant application. That match could be in cash, or in-kind contributions. We would never have been able to provide the match without the generosity and commitment of the following organizations who partnered with us to make this grant project possible: