The holidays are upon us and grocery carts are filling up with all the essentials for baking, cooking, and entertaining. One big winner this time of year? Dairy. Today, we’re talking about how dairy sales grow in November and December, and what Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is doing at retail to support our local farmers.

Jonathon Hallock is a Board Director with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin representing Buffalo, Pepin and Pierce Counties. His dairy is just outside of Mondovi.

Hallock says that this is an incredibly important time of year for all of the dairy complex. People are baking more, cooking holiday meals, hosting parties, and that all drives demand for products like butter, cream, cheese, and specialty cheeses.

Across the U.S., you typically see a 3–5% increase in milk and butter sales in the fall compared to summer, and a lot of that is driven by November and December holiday shopping. Wisconsin especially shines because of all the specialty cheeses our cheesemakers have crafted. Specialty and entertaining cheeses usually can see sales really spike. In the week leading up to Christmas, specialty cheese sales at retail can be around 50% higher than average, because people are building cheese boards, gifting cheese, and using it in their recipes.

How can you find that specialty cheese - and maybe the story behind it?  Simple.  Hallock says to look for the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese badge.  He says when you see that badge, you’re not just buying a product—you’re supporting a whole chain of people:

• The dairy farm families who care for the cows
• The cheesemakers crafting those specialty cheeses
• The truck drivers, plant workers, and local communities built around dairy

Holiday sales help keep milk moving, plants busy, and paychecks flowing in rural communities across Wisconsin.

Remember, the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese message is rippling across the United States and around the world.  Hallock reminds everyone that 90% of our state’s milk is made into cheese. About 90% of that cheese is sold outside Wisconsin, so holiday demand across the country is a really big deal for our farmers back home.

If you'd like to find some of that specialty cheese for your cheese board or special event, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin's making it easy on you.  Just click on WisconsinCheese.com and get ready to enjoy and share.