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Is the U.S. Cheese Stockpile too big?


The data from USDA used in the infographic shows how big U.S. cheese stockpile has gotten over the last few years. As of August 2022, the U.S. had 1.5 billion pounds of cheese in cold storage across the country, which is around a whopping $3.4 billion worth of cheese.


Before looking at how big is the American stockpile of cheese, we will take a step back to first look into why America’s cheese stockpile has gotten so big in the first place.

 

Why So Much Cheese?

Milk production in the United States has increased by 50% over the last 30 years.


Although, the production of milk has increased, the consumption of milk has decreased. According to the data of 2004, each American consumed approximately 0.57 cups of milk per day. By 2018, average milk consumption had dropped to 0.33 cups approximately.


As a response to this problem, the method that the dairy companies and the American government found to fix it was that they purchased the excess milk and stored it as cheese for years. 


The question arises that where does this big amount of cheese gets stored. A good-sized portion of the stockpile is stored in a massive underground warehouse (a former limestone quarry) outside of Springfield, Missouri.


The Cheese Stockpile Keeps Growing

Apart from a small dip in 2021 during the global pandemic, America’s stockpile of cheese has increased steadily over the last five years:


Date

Total cheese in cold storage (billion pounds)

Y-o-y change (%)

April 2018

1.35

3.8%

April 2019

1.40

3.7%

April 2020

1.48

5.7%

April 2021

1.45

-2.0%

April 2022

1.48

2.1%

 

Between April 2018 and April 2022, U.S. cheese holdings increased by 130 million pounds to reach 1.48 billion pounds. After climbing up to 1.52 billion pounds in July, the stockpile settled once again at 1.48 billion pounds at the end of August 2022.


It is amazing to know that now the U.S. cheese stockpile weighs more than the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Tower of Pisa, and the Great Sphinx of Giza—combined.

 

U.S. Monthly Price Averages (Wisconsin 2022):

U.S. cheese prices use cheddar as a base, in either 40-pound blocks or 500-pound barrels, but individual cheeses trade differently.


Type of Cheese

Price per Pound

Processed American

$2.52

Cheddar

$2.52

Monetery Jack

$2.68

Brick

$2.81

Mozzarella

$2.87

Swiss

$3.30

Blue

$3.40

 

Is the Cheese Stockpile Here to Stay?

Many attempts have been made using different techniques to get rid of the cheese stockpile. The government has established federal food welfare programs and also has been encouraging milk consumption in schools throughout the country. 


Yet, despite their best efforts to reduce the excess, America’s cheese stockpile continues to grow.


As local consumers continue to reduce their milk consumption, and shift their focus from dairy milk to milk alternatives like almond or oat milk, how much bigger will this cheese stockpile get before the government comes up with an alternative solution to deal with its excess of dairy?


Is the U.S. Cheese Stockpile too big?


Infographic by: visualcapitalist

Share This Infographic On Your Site

Is the U.S. Cheese Stockpile too big? #Infographic

Is the U.S. Cheese Stockpile too big?


The data from USDA used in the infographic shows how big U.S. cheese stockpile has gotten over the last few years. As of August 2022, the U.S. had 1.5 billion pounds of cheese in cold storage across the country, which is around a whopping $3.4 billion worth of cheese.


Before looking at how big is the American stockpile of cheese, we will take a step back to first look into why America’s cheese stockpile has gotten so big in the first place.

 

Why So Much Cheese?

Milk production in the United States has increased by 50% over the last 30 years.


Although, the production of milk has increased, the consumption of milk has decreased. According to the data of 2004, each American consumed approximately 0.57 cups of milk per day. By 2018, average milk consumption had dropped to 0.33 cups approximately.


As a response to this problem, the method that the dairy companies and the American government found to fix it was that they purchased the excess milk and stored it as cheese for years. 


The question arises that where does this big amount of cheese gets stored. A good-sized portion of the stockpile is stored in a massive underground warehouse (a former limestone quarry) outside of Springfield, Missouri.


The Cheese Stockpile Keeps Growing

Apart from a small dip in 2021 during the global pandemic, America’s stockpile of cheese has increased steadily over the last five years:


Date

Total cheese in cold storage (billion pounds)

Y-o-y change (%)

April 2018

1.35

3.8%

April 2019

1.40

3.7%

April 2020

1.48

5.7%

April 2021

1.45

-2.0%

April 2022

1.48

2.1%

 

Between April 2018 and April 2022, U.S. cheese holdings increased by 130 million pounds to reach 1.48 billion pounds. After climbing up to 1.52 billion pounds in July, the stockpile settled once again at 1.48 billion pounds at the end of August 2022.


It is amazing to know that now the U.S. cheese stockpile weighs more than the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Tower of Pisa, and the Great Sphinx of Giza—combined.

 

U.S. Monthly Price Averages (Wisconsin 2022):

U.S. cheese prices use cheddar as a base, in either 40-pound blocks or 500-pound barrels, but individual cheeses trade differently.


Type of Cheese

Price per Pound

Processed American

$2.52

Cheddar

$2.52

Monetery Jack

$2.68

Brick

$2.81

Mozzarella

$2.87

Swiss

$3.30

Blue

$3.40

 

Is the Cheese Stockpile Here to Stay?

Many attempts have been made using different techniques to get rid of the cheese stockpile. The government has established federal food welfare programs and also has been encouraging milk consumption in schools throughout the country. 


Yet, despite their best efforts to reduce the excess, America’s cheese stockpile continues to grow.


As local consumers continue to reduce their milk consumption, and shift their focus from dairy milk to milk alternatives like almond or oat milk, how much bigger will this cheese stockpile get before the government comes up with an alternative solution to deal with its excess of dairy?


Is the U.S. Cheese Stockpile too big?


Infographic by: visualcapitalist

Share This Infographic On Your Site

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