My favorite job while in college was working for the Washington State University (WSU) Creamery.  It meant I had to get up at an ungodly hour and trek to almost the furthest point of campus from my living quarters, but it was all worth it.  I would take pictures of the cheese every morning (to track the quality) and count the money from the previous day, ultimately depositing it in the bank and making sure the books all came out right.  Samples of cheese were sometimes thrown into the bargain, as well as the best ice cream I'd ever had, and I got to try out new flavors.  The cans of Cougar Gold cheese became a familiar friend to me and I was proud of my university as I saw the checks from all over the country coming in for the cheese.

Looking at today's stats, I can hardly believe the changes:  the WSU Creamery does 5.5 million dollars in business a year now, with 13 workers devoted to taking orders for cheese.  This past holiday season 50,000 boxes of Cougar Gold cheese were shipped to customers, with 8,000 of those boxes shipped in one day alone.  A lot of progress has been made in these 20+ years since I graduated from college!

Cougar Gold, for those not initiated, is an aged cheddar cheese.  It is a white cheddar that becomes sharper and more crumbly with age.  It is aged typically for one year, although it is periodically aged for 3 years.  This is by far WSU's most popular cheese, an icon of sorts for the university.  From all over the country orders pour in for this distinctive cheddar.  Milk for Cougar Gold cheese, 7 other regular flavors and 3 limited or seasonal flavors come from the university's dairy herd of Holsteins.  Every morning 1800 gallons (15,000 pounds) of milk arrive at the creamery to be transformed into cheeses and the famous Ferdinand's ice cream.  And at the end of every day, 1500 pounds of Cougar Gold are finished.

Besides Cougar Gold cheese, there is American Cheddar, Smoky Cheddar, Viking Cheese (a semi-soft white cheese similar to Monterey Jack), Dill Garlic, Sweet Basil, Crimson Fire, and Hot Pepper.  these cheeses come in cans, a unique process pioneered at the university in the 1940's that contributes to its unique and superior flavor.  Visit www.public.wsu.edu/~creamery for ordering information, history of the creamery and its local cheeses, and to watch how Cougar Gold is made.

WSU Creamery
P O Box 641122
Pullman, WA 99164-1122

1-800-457-5442
1-509-335-4014

www.public.wsu.edu/~creamery

Love local food and farmers?  Get a tasty serving of farm and food stories delivered fresh to your inbox each week!  Sign up today!