Wisconsin still leads nation in cheese production

MADISON, Wis. — There’s a reason Wisconsin is called the cheese capital of America.

The Badger State produced 227 million pounds of cheese in June. That was one-fourth of the nation’s cheese production that month, and a 2 percent increase over the state’s production in June of last year.

Half of Wisconsin’s production was Italian cheese. The state produced 114 million pounds, a 3 percent increase from June 2011.

Wisconsin and Minnesota were in the top three in cheddar production. Wisconsin led the way with 48 million pounds, and Minnesota was third behind Idaho with 39 million pounds.

California leads the nation in milk production but it’s second in cheese production. California produced 183 million pounds of cheese in June, a 1 percent decrease from June 2011.

National production was up 1 percent.