Tillamook Cheese and Dairy Association formed in January 1962 from two cooperatives: Grade A Shippers Association and Tillamook Cheese Association. During the Cheese War, TCDA was an alternative to Tillamook County Creamery Association. As a result of a lawsuit against TCCA, TCDA ran the large cheese factory, where it produced Premium Brand Tillamook Cheese between… READ MORE
This 1941 photo shows an employee at the big Tillamook cheese factory working on a vat of future cheese. Rennet was a key ingredient in creating the cheese. As Linda Kirk, who was a guide back when visitors could walk around the production floor, wrote in the book, Cheese War, “Rennet causes the milk to… READ MORE
This 1958 photo shows cheese aging in the Tillamook factory’s cold storage room. (Photo from Northwest Digital Heritage) READ MORE
In the 1950s, Tillamook produced a booklet of gift packs, including a loaf of Tillamook medium cheddar “for real Cheese eaters” and “for the larger family.” The Western price was $4.45, including shipping, or $52.95 in today’s dollars. READ MORE
Every day, Tillamook County farmers hauled their cans of milk to their cheese factory. The milk was from the previous night’s milking and that morning’s milking. Farmers belonged to cheese factory cooperatives close to their farms so the delivery didn’t take all day. Once the cans were delivered, it was time to head back to… READ MORE
Male cheesemakers created the cheese, and women packaged it. In this photo from an early 1950s publication, “Home of Tillamook Cheese,” the packaging department employees are working on the newly popular rindless one- and half-pound packages of medium and sharp cheese as well as wedges and snack bars – the products we are familiar with… READ MORE
Reporter Dorothy Neighbors visited the large Tillamook cheese factory in 1958 and wrote about the experience for The Seattle Times. (Credit: The Seattle Times, 11.18.58) READ MORE
Strike! In July 1959, Tillamook County Creamery Association employees were on strike in solidarity with their Teamster members. Farmers and some non-striking workers filled in to keep production and distribution going. Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa spoke in support and Gov. Mark Hatfield got involved in the negotiations. Grocery store shoppers boycotted the product in 11… READ MORE
This 1893 photo shows two cheesemakers at the Beaver Cheese Factory. Ike Heiner (left) was the cheesemaker; his sister, Elizabeth Foland, (right) was a rare woman assisting in the factory. She brought the recipe when they moved from the Midwest. Some reports say that her husband, George Foland, was the first commercial cheesemaker in the… READ MORE
1968-69 – Tillamook County Creamery Association reorganized as a producer cooperative 1969 – All small cheese factories in Tillamook County were closed for environmental and efficiency reasons; all milk was then processed at the large factory north of Tillamook 1970 – Oregon established a statewide quota system 1987 – Oregon’s statewide quota system ended 1987… READ MORE
