Gouda news! October is American Cheese Month.
The third annual commemoration is culminating in festivities around the country at cheesemongers and creameries offering tastings, wine pairing seminars, dinners and other deals. Turns out, the industry has much to celebrate this year, as cheese sales are on the rise.
"People care about their food," said Greg O'Neill, president of the American Cheese Society and owner of Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine in Chicago. "Cheese is the largest category of specialty food and there is a great interest in the producers, their stories and their creations."
According to recent industry data, the average American consumed 35.5 pounds of cheese in 2011, adding up to total U.S. sales of $18.9 billion that year.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: ABC News
