The History behind The Ashe County Cheese Factory
The History behind the Ashe County Cheese Factory located in West Jefferson, NC. Also Near Boone, NC and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Ashe County Cheese was started in 1930 by the Kraft
Corporation. Kraft helped consolidate several small community cheese
plants in the area and provided the means and expertise to produce
cheddar daisy wheels for distribution nationwide. They operated the
plant until 1975 when they sold it to then manager, Chesley Hazlewood.
Mr. Hazlewood operated the business until his death in 1980.
In
1981, Mrs. Hazlewood sold Ashe County Cheese to Jerry Glick and Doug
Rudersdorf, two cheese men from Wisconsin. Glick and Rudersdorf
remodeled and upgraded both the cheese plant and the cheese store,
located across the street. They also added a viewing room to the plant.
It was at this point that Ashe County Cheese became one of the most
popular tourist attractions in North Carolina.
In 1986, Ashe
County Cheese was sold again, this time to the investment firm of
Finevest Services Inc. of Greenwich, Connecticut. Then in 1991 Finevest
Services was reorganized and Ashe County Cheese became a part of
Interlaken Capital, also an investment firm out of Greenwich,
Connecticut.
Finally, in 1994 Interlaken Capital sold the assets
of Ashe County Cheese to Newburg Corners Cheese Inc., a Wisconsin
Corporation owned by Mike Everhart and Tom Torkelson, the current
owners. Everhart moved here with his family in 1995 to manage the
company, while Torkelson remained in Wisconsin and has since become one
of the nations finest cheese makers. He has won many National and
International awards for his cheeses, and in the fall of 2007 was
awarded the distinction of Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker.
In
2004, Ashe County Cheese was split into two separate companies: Ashe
County Cheese Company (the plant division) still owned and operated by
Everhart and Torkelson, and Ashe County Cheese Store, now owned and
operated by the Everhart Family. Though two separate companies, the
businesses work hand in hand to efficiently utilize both work space and
personnel.
Ashe County Cheese Store has remodeled and expanded
several times through the years, with the most recent remodel and
addition being completed in the spring of 2007. The store now offers not
only all the products made here, but also a wide variety of other food
and gift items.
The plant has also undergone several upgrades
since 1994, and though it still makes old style cheddar daisy wheels, it
now produces a wide variety of cheeses and butter. It has developed a
strong following for its original Sienna cheese, its many flavored
cheeses, and its newest variety Juusto cheese (a mild Scandinavian
cheese).
With a rich history covering more than 75 years, Ashe
County Cheese is well positioned to face the many challenges of the
future, and we look forward to serving your needs for many years to
come.
If you have any questions or would like more information,
please contact us at 800.445.1378, 336.246.2501, email us, or use our
online request form.