Top 6 Illinoisan Cheeses

Caputo Cheese is a family-owned company with deep roots in tradition and a strong commitment to quality. It all began in 1978 as a small cheese shop, when founders René and Pasquale Caputo offered a variety of domestic and imported cheeses by the piece.

They soon expanded into processing and blending cheeses for distributors and food producers — starting with Parmesan, Romano, and mozzarella, and later adding other Italian specialties such as olive oils, vinegars, pasta, and seasonings. The key principles are preserving the flavor of the “old world” while providing tailored “new world” services. Caputo Cheese builds direct relationships with its raw material suppliers, and is dedicated to excellence, consistency, and customer satisfaction — a commitment reflected in the large number of loyal business partners.

Caputo Cheese continues to grow and innovate its offerings, relying on family values, passion for cheese, and service that goes beyond the traditional standards of the industry.Expand

Prairie Farms Dairy is one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the United States. Founded in 1938, it operates as a cooperative, meaning it is owned by dairy farmers who supply the milk and other dairy products.

Prairie Farms Dairy produces a wide range of dairy products, including milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, and yogurt, and distributes them across a large portion of the United States. The cooperative's business model is centered around supporting local dairy farmers while offering high-quality, fresh dairy products to consumers. Prairie Farms Dairy is known for its commitment to sustainability and animal welfare, as well as for using advanced technologies in dairy farming to ensure the quality of their products.Expand

V&V Supremo Foods is a cheese producer based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1964. The company specializes in Mexican-style dairy products, including a variety of cheeses, sour creams, and chorizo.

V&V Supremo Foods services both retail and foodservice customers.Expand

Kolb Lena Cheese Co., located in Lena, Illinois, specializes in manufacturing a variety of cheeses. This company has been operational since 1940 and is known for producing cheese in small batches to ensure quality.

They employ traditional methods in cheese creation, offering both wholesale and retail options. Their product lineup includes Swiss and cheddar among other types of cheeses.Expand

Global Foods International is an American producer of specialty cheeses based in Schiller Park, Illinois. A fourth-generation family company, founded in the 1930s, it continues the tradition of quality started in Switzerland and Germany.

Today, they produce a wide range of cheeses, including smoked cheeses, blocks, slices, shredded, diced, and processed cheeses, as well as products in large and industrial packages. They also offer services such as smoking, cutting, and custom packaging, as well as private-label production. Global Foods International also stands out for its awards: in the past two years, they have won 31 medals at prestigious cheese-making competitions, including 12 Best in Class awards.

Their commitment to quality and innovation makes them a recognized leader in the specialty cheese industry in North America.Expand

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, located in Champaign, Illinois, is a farmstead creamery that produces artisan goat cheeses and gelato. It emphasizes sustainable agricultural practices and sources its primary ingredients from its herd of goats.

The farm hosts events and offers farm-to-table meals showcasing their products and local produce.Expand