The Mystery Of Cheese Cave's Delicious Secrets

The US government has been storing billions of pounds of cheese in converted limestone mines in Springfield, Missouri. The cheese caves are kept at a constant temperature of 2 degrees Celsius and are home to a variety of cheeses, including cheddar, Swiss, and American. The practice of storing cheese in caves began in the 1970s during Jimmy Carter's presidency to support dairy farmers by buying excess cheese and keeping prices low. While the government no longer owns all of the cheese in these caves, the stockpiles remain, and the cheese is now used for food assistance programs.

The US government's cheese caves are in converted salt mines in Missouri

The US government's cheese caves, located in Springfield, Missouri, are in converted limestone mines. These mines were chosen for their climate control capabilities, with natural underground temperatures in the low 60s and moderate humidity. The caves are kept at a constant 36 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal temperature for storing cheese.

The US government has been storing cheese in these caves for decades, with the practice beginning in the 1970s during Jimmy Carter's presidency. At the time, the country was facing a dairy shortage, and President Carter implemented a subsidy policy that injected $2 billion into the dairy industry over four years. This led to overproduction, and the government began purchasing excess cheese to support farmers and stabilize dairy prices.

By the 1980s, the government owned over 500 million pounds of cheese, and the challenge of storing and distributing this massive amount of cheese became apparent. The cheese caves in Missouri provided an ideal solution, with their vast size and ability to accommodate large tractor-trailers for easy transportation and storage.

The cheese stored in these caves is primarily American cheese, a dense and hardy variety with a long shelf life. While some of the cheese is distributed to food assistance programs, a significant portion is owned by private companies and stored by the USDA.

Today, the US government's cheese caves in Missouri continue to play a role in the country's dairy industry, providing a unique and effective solution to the challenges of surplus cheese storage and distribution.

The caves are kept at a constant 2°C

The cheese caves are kept at a constant temperature of 2°C. This is achieved through the use of temperature-controlled rooms, ensuring that the cheese is stored in optimal conditions. The caves, located in Missouri, are not natural caves but converted salt mines, housing hundreds of rooms with fluorescent lighting. This unique environment maintains the desired cool temperature, preserving the cheese and prolonging its shelf life.

The cheese caves are more than just a quirky storage solution. They serve as a strategic reserve, with the US government buying cheese directly from farmers to support the dairy industry and maintain stable prices. By storing cheese in these temperature-controlled caves, the government can distribute it as needed for various purposes.

The history of these cheese caves dates back to the 1950s, but the current stockpiling began in the 1970s under President Jimmy Carter. The initiative continued under President Ronald Reagan, who distributed cheese to people on welfare. Over time, the caves have become a symbol of government intervention in the agricultural market, with millions of people having experienced "government cheese".

The constant temperature of 2°C in the cheese caves is a critical factor in preserving this significant reserve of cheese. It ensures that the cheese remains edible and safe for consumption, allowing the government to manage surplus production and support farmers through challenging economic times.

The temperature-controlled environment also helps maintain the quality of the cheese. Different types of cheese have specific temperature requirements for optimal maturation and flavour development. By keeping the caves at a constant 2°C, the government can ensure that the cheese ages properly, maintaining its texture, taste, and nutritional value.

The US government has been stockpiling cheese since the 1950s

The History of Government Cheese

The story of government cheese began in 1949 with the Agricultural Act, which gave the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) the authority to purchase dairy products from farmers. The CCC, created during the Great Depression to stabilize prices and help farmers, had been buying and storing cheese since the 1950s. However, the cheese stockpiles became a significant issue in the 1970s and 1980s due to overproduction.

The Dairy Crisis of the 1970s

In the 1970s, the US faced a national dairy shortage and 30% inflation on dairy products. In response, President Jimmy Carter's administration decided to invest heavily in the dairy industry, providing $2 billion to motivate production. This led to dairy farmers producing as much milk as possible, knowing that the government would purchase any surplus.

Cheese Stockpiles and the Birth of "Government Cheese"

By the early 1980s, the US government owned over 500 million pounds of cheese, butter, and dehydrated milk powder. The cheese was chosen as a dairy product with a longer shelf life. However, the government faced a dilemma as it had no market for the cheese and struggled to find a solution for the deteriorating stockpile.

In 1981, the conundrum became public when Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block appeared at a White House event with a five-pound block of mouldy cheese. He told reporters:

> "We've got 60 million of these that the government owns... It's mouldy, it's deteriorating... we can't find a market for it, we can't sell it, and we're looking to give some of it away."

Distribution of Government Cheese

Facing criticism and with hungry Americans suffering from the recession, President Ronald Reagan's administration created the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in 1981. The program distributed the cheese to the elderly, low-income individuals, and organizations serving them. The iconic five-pound blocks of cheese became known as "government cheese" and were given away for free at food banks and community centres.

The Revival of Cheese Stockpiling

Despite the efforts to distribute the cheese, the US government continued to struggle with dairy surpluses. In 2019, the government again found itself storing cheese, this time with a stockpile of 1.4 billion pounds. This was due to declining dairy consumption, trade disputes, and the dairy industry's continued overproduction.

The Cheese Caves of Missouri

To store the massive cheese surplus, the government utilised converted limestone mines in Missouri, known as "cheese caves," kept at a constant temperature of 36 degrees Fahrenheit. While the "cheese caves" have attracted attention and become an internet meme, they represent a larger issue of government support for an industry facing declining demand.

In conclusion, the US government's stockpiling of cheese since the 1950s has been a complex and ongoing issue involving dairy subsidies, overproduction, and attempts to address food insecurity. The iconic "government cheese" of the 1980s and the more recent "cheese caves" are reminders of the challenges faced by the dairy industry and the government's efforts to stabilise it.

The cheese is stored on shelving units in temperature-controlled rooms

The cheese caves are located in converted salt mines in Missouri, in the centre of the United States. The caves are kept at a cool 2 degrees Celsius, providing the ideal environment for the cheese to ripen to perfection. The cheese is stored on shelving units in temperature-controlled rooms, with hundreds of rooms filled with fluorescent lighting.

The caves are not your traditional drippy caverns, but rather a series of unadorned, climate-controlled rooms. The cheese caves are kept at a constant temperature to ensure the cheese is stored safely and can ripen effectively. Each cave is tailored to the specific needs of the cheese, with unique environments and activities to produce one-of-a-kind products.

Cheese caves have been used for centuries to mature cheese, with experts crafting unique, best-in-class products. The caves are carefully monitored and controlled to create the perfect conditions for cheese ageing. The temperature and moisture levels are adjusted to ensure the cheese develops the desired characteristics.

The cheese caves in Missouri are an example of how human intervention can create the ideal environment for cheese maturation. By converting salt mines into temperature-controlled storage facilities, the United States government has created the perfect conditions for cheese to ripen and develop its unique flavour and texture.

The cheese caves are a testament to the art of cheese-making and the human ingenuity involved in perfecting this craft. The temperature-controlled rooms and shelving units ensure that the cheese is stored safely and effectively, allowing for the creation of delicious and distinctive cheeses.

The cheese is distributed to people on welfare, food banks, schools, and emergency food assistance programs

The cheese stored in the cheese caves is distributed to people on welfare, food banks, schools, and emergency food assistance programs. The cheese is also exported, provided to people on food stamps, social security, and pregnant women.

The distribution of cheese to those on welfare began under the Reagan administration, which gave away 60 million five-pound blocks of cheese for pickup by people at food banks and community centers. This was a temporary solution to the excess of cheese produced. However, the problem of overproduction persisted, and by 2019, the government was storing cheese in greater quantities than ever before.

The cheese stored in the caves is owned by both the USDA and private companies. The USDA purchases cheese to give to Americans in need through food banks and food assistance programs. This has the effect of stabilizing market prices by displacing some commercial cheese purchases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA created food boxes containing cheese and other dairy products to distribute to families in need, which had the unintended consequence of driving up wholesale cheese prices.

The cheese in the caves is stored in converted limestone or salt mines in Missouri, kept at a temperature of two degrees Celsius. The caves are not open to the public, but similar caves in Yorkshire, England, can be visited for those interested in exploring underground.

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