Frederic Melton
Tillamook is a dairy company based in Tillamook, Oregon, that has been in business for over a hundred years. The company's headquarters are built on the ancestral land of the indigenous Tillamook people. Tillamook's most popular product is Tillamook cheese, which is mostly made in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon. However, some of their products, including specific cheeses, are made outside of Oregon by industry partners with the appropriate equipment and expertise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tillamook Cheese headquarters | Tillamook, Oregon |
| Tillamook Cheese factories | Tillamook, Boardman, Oregon |
| Tillamook Cheese production | More than 170,000 pounds of cheese daily |
| Tillamook Cheese packaging | Approximately one million pounds on-site each week |
| Tillamook Cheese warehouse capacity | 50 million pounds of cheese |
| Tillamook Cheese employees | Nearly 900 people in Oregon |
| Tillamook Cheese sales in 2021 | $1 billion |
| Tillamook Cheese cooperatives | Nearly 60 dairy farms, mostly within Tillamook County |
| Tillamook Cheese products | Cheese, ice cream, butter, sour cream, yogurt |
| Tillamook Cheese popularity | Strongest on the West Coast but sells in all 50 states |
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What You'll Learn
- Tillamook cheese is made in Oregon, not Washington
- Tillamook County Creamery Association is a farmer-owned co-op
- Tillamook cheese is made in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon
- Tillamook's Medium Cheddar cheese won gold at the 2010 World Cheese Championship
- Tillamook Creamery offers a guided tour of its cheese-making process
Tillamook cheese is made in Oregon, not Washington
The story of cheese in Tillamook began during the mid-19th century when thousands of EuroAmericans traveled to the Pacific Northwest over the Oregon Trail. The Tillamook Valley was ideal for dairy cattle, with a mild coastal climate that was good for growing grass to support the cows. However, transporting milk and butter over the mountains surrounding the valley proved challenging. In 1854, several farmers from the county built a schooner named the Morning Star to transport butter to Portland, Oregon. The Morning Star is now memorialized as part of the Tillamook Cheese logo, and a replica is on view at the Tillamook factory.
In 1893, Portland entrepreneurs Thaddeus "T.S." Townsend and Harry Ogden, recognizing the area's potential for dairy production, started a cheese factory in Tillamook. Peter McIntosh and T.S. Townsend established the county's first cheese factory in 1894. Over time, Tillamook acquired a reputation for its dairy products, and the TCCA was formed to market and sell the cheese. Under the supervision of Carl Haberlach and Fred Christensen, the TCCA developed a collective standard of quality and consistency for the cheese produced in the region.
Today, the TCCA employs nearly 900 people in Oregon and is the largest employer in Tillamook County. The cooperative includes nearly 60 dairy farms, mostly within Tillamook County. In addition to cheese, the TCCA markets several other processed dairy products, including ice cream, butter, sour cream, and yogurt. Some of these products are manufactured by the cooperative itself, while others are produced under licensing agreements with partner companies. The TCCA's most notable product is Tillamook cheese, with the most popular variety being Tillamook Cheddar. The brand is strongest on the West Coast but sells in all 50 states and has won numerous awards from the American Cheese Society and other groups.
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Tillamook County Creamery Association is a farmer-owned co-op
Tillamook cheese is made in Tillamook, Oregon, and not in Washington. The Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a farmer-owned dairy cooperative that has been rooted in Tillamook, Oregon, since 1909. The association was founded by ten independent creameries and has been farmer-owned since its inception. The TCCA's headquarters are in Tillamook, Oregon, and the company recognises the land as the ancestral territory of the indigenous Tillamook and other native tribes.
The TCCA's main facility is the Tillamook Creamery, located two miles north of the city of Tillamook on U.S. Route 101. The Tillamook Cheese Factory, located at 4165 U.S. 101 North in Tillamook, Oregon, is the TCCA's original cheese production facility. The factory produces more than 170,000 pounds of cheese daily and packages approximately one million pounds on-site each week. The Tillamook Cheese Factory also has a visitor centre, which hosts over 1.3 million tourists annually. Visitors can learn about the cheesemaking, cheese packaging, and ice cream-making processes from a viewing gallery over the main production floor.
The TCCA is made up of nearly 60 dairy farms, most of which are within Tillamook County. The cooperative markets a range of processed dairy products, including cheese, ice cream, butter, sour cream, and yogurt. Some of these products are manufactured by the cooperative itself, while others are produced under licensing agreements with partner companies. The TCCA's most notable product is Tillamook cheese, with its Medium Cheddar cheese winning gold in the 2010 World Cheese Championship Cheese Contest. In 2024, Tillamook's cheddar beat 4,785 cheeses from 47 countries at the World Cheese Awards.
The TCCA is committed to upholding certain values and standards, such as its six Stewardship Commitments. In 2018, the TCCA was one of the first big national dairy brands to decide to require all its dairy suppliers to phase out the use of a particular hormone in milk products due to consumer concerns about potential cancer risks. The TCCA is also committed to fostering a collaborative and innovative workplace culture that is enriching and fulfilling for its employees.
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Tillamook cheese is made in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon
The story of cheese in Tillamook began during the mid-19th century when thousands of EuroAmericans traveled to the Pacific Northwest over the Oregon Trail. The Tillamook Valley was ideal for dairy cattle, but transporting milk and butter over the mountains surrounding the valley was a problem. In 1854, several farmers from the county built a schooner named the Morning Star to transport butter to Portland, Oregon. The Morning Star is now memorialized as part of the Tillamook Cheese logo, and a replica is on view at the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
In 1893, Portland entrepreneurs Thaddeus “T.S.” Townsend and Harry Ogden started a cheese factory in Tillamook. Peter McIntosh and T. S. Townsend established the county's first cheese factory in 1894. In 1909, several of the region’s cheesemakers formed the Tillamook County Creamery Association, a marketing organization that operates on behalf of its independent member-producers. The TCCA developed a collective standard of quality and consistency for its cheese products.
To meet the growing demand for Tillamook products, the TCCA added a second cheese-making facility in Boardman, Oregon, in September 2001. The Columbia River Processing, Inc. facility in Boardman doubled the TCCA's cheesemaking capabilities. The TCCA also operates cheesemaking facilities in Boardman and contracts some of its packaging and distribution to Marathon Cheese in Mountain Home, Idaho, and Great Lakes Cheese in Salt Lake City. While most Tillamook cheeses are made in Oregon, some cheeses are made by industry partners outside of Oregon who have the appropriate equipment and expertise for specific flavors.
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Tillamook's Medium Cheddar cheese won gold at the 2010 World Cheese Championship
Tillamook Cheese is headquartered in Tillamook, Oregon, and has been linked to the state for over a century. Generations of dairy farmers and cheesemakers have brought economic prosperity to the area, with the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) building a nationally known brand of cheese and dairy products.
In March 2010, Tillamook's Medium Cheddar cheese won the gold medal at the World Cheese Championship Cheese Contest, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. The cheese scored an impressive 99.6 out of 100 points, beating 59 other entries in its category. This award further solidified the brand's reputation for producing high-quality cheese.
The Tillamook Valley's mild coastal climate and lush grass provided the ideal environment for dairy cattle in the mid-19th century. However, transporting milk and butter over the surrounding mountains posed a challenge. To overcome this, local farmers built a schooner named the Morning Star in 1854 (or 1855, according to another source) to transport their goods to markets in Portland, Oregon. The Morning Star is now memorialized as part of the Tillamook Cheese logo, with a replica on display at the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
The TCCA was founded in 1909 by ten independent creameries and has since become a prominent employer in Tillamook County, with nearly 900 employees in Oregon. The cooperative includes nearly 60 dairy farms, mostly within Tillamook County, and markets a range of processed dairy products, including cheese, ice cream, butter, sour cream, and yogurt. The Tillamook Cheese Factory produces over 170,000 pounds of cheese daily and has a visitor center that attracts over a million tourists annually.
Tillamook's Medium Cheddar cheese winning gold at the 2010 World Cheese Championship was a testament to the brand's commitment to quality and craftsmanship, further enhancing its reputation as one of the leading cheese producers in the industry.
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Tillamook Creamery offers a guided tour of its cheese-making process
Tillamook Creamery, located in Tillamook, Oregon, offers a guided tour of its cheese-making process. The Tillamook County Creamery Association is a farmer-owned co-op that has been in operation for over a century. The brand is well-known for its cheese and dairy products, which have brought economic prosperity to the region. The Tillamook Creamery is a popular destination for dairy enthusiasts, offering a unique insight into the art of cheesemaking.
The guided tour, known as the Premium Tillamook Experience, takes visitors through the rich heritage and craftsmanship of their farmer-made dairy products. The tour begins with an introduction to the dairy cows and the Tillamook Valley, an ideal place for raising them. Visitors can learn about the different breeds of cows and the history of the first dairy farms in the area. The self-guided tour then leads visitors through the cheese-making process, with signs providing directions and information. Along the way, there are exhibits showcasing the life of a dairy farm, including the technology used, such as computerized cow collars that track the cows' health and movement.
The Tillamook Creamery also offers a specialty cheese tasting as part of the Premium Tillamook Experience. Visitors can sample a variety of cheeses, including the exclusive Tillamook Cheddar Cheese Curds, only available at the Creamery. The Creamery Café offers grilled cheese sandwiches and a fudge counter with over 30 types of fudge made with Tillamook butter. The ice cream counter serves up iconic, extra creamy flavours, sometimes even featuring new flavours before they hit the stores.
The Tillamook Creamery has a variety of event spaces and caters to groups of all sizes. It is wheelchair accessible and provides wheelchairs on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Creamery is designed to look like a modern barn and features a gift shop with dairy-themed gear, cookbooks, and souvenirs. The new facility, which replaced the old building, offers a bigger, more interactive space with unique features for guests to enjoy.
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Frequently asked questions
Tillamook cheese is not made in Washington. Tillamook cheese is made in Tillamook, Oregon, and Boardman, Oregon.
The Tillamook County Creamery Association's original cheese production facility is located at 4165 U.S. 101 North in Tillamook, Oregon.
The Tillamook Creamery is a dairy-lover's destination. Visitors can learn about the cheesemaking process, cheese packaging process, and the ice cream-making process from a viewing gallery over the main production floor.
The story of cheese in Tillamook, a small town on the north Oregon Coast, began during the mid-19th century. The Tillamook Valley was ideal for dairy cattle, but transporting milk and butter over the surrounding mountains was a problem. In 1854, several farmers from the county built a schooner named the Morning Star to transport butter to Portland, Oregon.
The Tillamook County Creamery Association markets several processed dairy products, including cheese, ice cream, butter, sour cream, and yogurt.
