by Jeremy Johnson, Meat & Specialty Category Manager
For all of us who love cheese, we are lucky. We live in the state that produces some of the best cheese in the country, but not all of our friends and family are so lucky. On the plus side, cheese is one of the best holiday gifts you can give, despite being a bit unconventional. It is versatile enough to offer something for everyone, easy to find, and delicious to eat. Even though cheese is incredibly delicious, some people will not be able to eat all of it due to dietary restrictions. If someone has a milk allergy, then try giving them goat cheese instead, or possibly an A1-free cheese, like Clearview Dairy’s Classic Cheddar.
There are two proteins found in cow’s milk A1 and A2. Of the two, A1 protein is harder for humans to digest. A1-free cheese is tested to ensure that there is no A1 protein in the milk, and can be easier for some people with milk allergies to tolerate. Cheese is an easy gift to pick. It’s a great opportunity to help your loved ones try something that they will enjoy and have never tried before.
Shipping cheese
Cheese can even be shipped. Imagine how happy your friends and family would be to find a box filled with some of the finest Wisconsin cheeses on their doorstep just in time for the holidays. Sending cheese is not as simple as putting it in a box and sending it out. It’s a perishable food, made up of living, breathing organisms, and those organisms need to be taken care of. That being said, most cheeses are not as delicate as you may think and, with some thoughtful packaging, they will survive the shipping process just fine.
Selecting which cheese to send is probably the hardest part. There are some cheeses that don't ship as well as others. Soft or fresh cheeses are generally too sensitive to ship across large distances without specialized packaging. The firmer the cheese, the better it will ship. A hard cheese like Bleu Mont Bandaged Cheddar will be perfectly happy traveling across the country to an eagerly awaiting recipient. Semi-soft varieties of cheeses like the rich and buttery Roth Havarti or the wide range of Sartori BellaVitano flavors are also cooperative when it comes to shipping.
Packaging
Once you have selected all of the cheese you want to send, you will want to select what type of packaging you want to use. To ensure optimal quality, some type of insulation lining the inside of the shipping box is a must. This insulation will keep the temperature cool and stable inside the box. While preparing the cheese itself you will want to leave the cheese in its original packaging or, if you’re cutting off smaller pieces and keeping some for yourself, wrap it in cheese paper or wax paper. Wrapped this way, the cheese will be able to breathe without drying out. Finally, pack securely so your cheese won’t be moving around in the box while in transit.
Shipping times
Now that you have your cheese securely packaged you have one last thing to take into consideration to make sure your cheese has a safe journey—and that is time. Although hard cheeses are less sensitive to humidity and temperature changes, it’s best if your cheeses get to their destination within two days. Check the estimated shipping times to avoid any issues with freshness. It’s a good idea to try and ship early in the week to avoid having your cheese stuck at a warehouse over the weekend.