Cheese production is close to 400,000 tonnes a year in Canada, a little over half being specialty cheeses. Ontario accounts for about 30 per cent of the country’s total cheese production; roughly 60 per cent comes from Quebec.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, dozens of small cheese-making operations dotted the Lennox & Addington countryside, when our cheeses were internationally renowned and produced in great quantities.  Over time, manufacturing techniques changed, reducing the perceived need for artisanal cheese products.
 
Interest in small-scale cheese-making is beginning to make a comeback in Lennox & Addington County.  There is a re-affirmed commitment to local food, a newfound respect for local environments, and consumer-led desire for the creation and consumption of nutritious foods.

L&A has almost everything needed to take the next step in the artisanal cheese-making process: milk suppliers, experienced and aspiring cheese makers, willing mentors and advisors, eager retailers and customers. Now it’s time to put the pieces together, add some capital investment, and let the cheese making begin!

Visit www.investincheese.ca to learn about how you can be a part of this re-emerging industry.