Property: Blue Moon Cheese Factory
Contact: Janet
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 

We received the photo below which was extracted from glass plates. It was likely taken in the late 1930's and the only notation on it was "Blue Moon Cheese Factory". If you know where this factory was located, and/or the owners, or any history of it, please contact us.

Responses

I am pretty sure that the attached photo below is the real Blue Moon Cheese Factory. I am the original owner's grandson.

The original owner's daughter, my mom, recognizes the apartment room located in the upper left corner where the stairs lead to. She used to stay there during her father's (Jason Franklin Whitney) workday. My mom is June (Jun Dairy). Andrew Whitney Amaral

Hi Everyone!!! I just recently purchased a 9 inch long wooden cheese box;that has stamped on the long sides,the words Blue Moon. They are in white lettering on a blue moon round shape...It also has written on both long sides, manufactured by Blue Moon Cheese Products Inc.Minneapolis,Minn.It also has written Two Pounds NET Pasteurized Process Cheese... On the ends, it has the blue moon again written with the words in white written BLUE MOON, and written underneath AMERICAN... Is Thorp close to Minneapolis? Or would this not be from the same cheese company? Does anyone remember this type of cheese box being used in this same factory? This is such a neat box!!! And like Lays potato chips; you don't want to stop with just one!!! Thanks for any information about these questions!!! Linda Ann,  miraclestar888@yahoo.com

----Sources: Journal Sentinel staff and wire reports

Headline: Saputo closing Thorp cheese factory

Tuesday, November 7, 2000

Thorp -- A local cheese factory is closing and putting more than 100 people out of work. The 111 employees at Saputo Inc. received the news Friday, and 47 were let go immediately.

The jobs of 64 other employees will be phased out by the time the cheese plant closes Jan. 3, according to Saputo spokeswoman Linda Leith.

Saputo makes Gorgonzola and blue cheese at the Thorp facility.

Leith said the company is closing the plant because it needs substantial work. She also said the company would rather invest money in one of its more structurally sound plants.

Saputo has 17 plants in the United States, including 11 in Wisconsin.

The plant, formerly known as Blue Moon Cheese Factory, has existed under various owners for nearly 30 years. Saputo bought it in 1997. Leon G, Konieczny, leon@leonkonieczny.com
 

Saint-Léonard, November 3, 2000 - Saputo Inc. announced today the closure of two of its 17 U.S. facilities. The plants will be phasing out operations and will permanently close on or around January 3, 2001. The Monroe Cheese plant was producing approximately 6.8 million kg (15 million lbs.) of Mozzarella and Provolone per year. The Thorp plant was producing approximately 8.2 million kg (18 million lbs.) of Gorgonzola and Blue Cheese per year. The production of these plants is being transferred to other manufacturing facilities of Saputo Inc. These measures fall under the ongoing rationalization process undertaken by the Company within its U.S. operations. This strategy includes the transfer of production to enhance efficiency and increase profitability.  Leon G, Konieczny, leon@leonkonieczny.com

Responses

Re: My grandfather worked in this factory! I can't believe I found a picture of it. He worked there until his death in 1974.  Tyana Finley, av8tion_mechanic@yahoo.com

Re: Property: Blue Moon Cheese Factory
Contact: Scott

My father worked there half his life, and I worked there for about a year. It was owned at the end by saputo/Stella foods. I was cheesemaker/intake for a bit. Produced Gorgonzola, and Maytag bluecheese. There was a dairy and a separate building where they packaged the cheese down the street. They closed it because the equipment was out dated. It had output at 1.5 million pounds of blue and gorg on hand at most times. Buildings are now used for stripping cheese. (Buying and cutting mold off and repack)

Re: Property: Blue Moon Cheese Factory
Contact:  Cheryl Kern-Simirenko
Blue Moon was a Thorp landmark for many years. My father, James Kern, was the licensed cheesemaker there from 1945 until about 1966, when he became the field man, retiring in 1976. He was also the union steward for many years. I believe that Blue Moon was independently owned until the early fifties, when it was bought by Foremost, and sold again in the late 70's/early eighties. Blue Moon's signature cheeses included "Gold'n'Rich," Port Salut, Gorgonzola and bleu. During the Foremost years, my father won numerous blue ribbons at the Wisconsin State Fair for bleu and gorgonzola, and also the Governor's Sweepstakes. The Thorp Area Historical Society has information on Blue Moon, including memorabilia which I donated in 2004.