Making cheese predates recorded history, but artisan cheesemaking in the U.S. is a relatively new industry. According to a 2016 American Cheese Society (ACS) report, there are more than 900 artisan, farmstead and specialty cheesemakers operating in the United States. While a few artisan cheesemakers have been in business for over 100 years, the average has been making cheese for only 15 years.
At the 2017 ACS Cheese with Altitude conference and competition in Denver this summer, 281 cheesemakers submitted 2,024 entries. The field included cheeses from 36 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Colombia.