Tillamook and Organic Valley Cheeses – Are USA Cheese just as good as other cheeses?

In Singapore, when we think about cheeses, France will come to mind for premium cheeses and Australian cheeses for something closer to home.

However, do you know that the United States is not only the world’s largest cheese producer at almost six million metric tons of cheese in 2020, it is also one of the most diverse? What sets American cheese apart from other cheese-producing countries is steeped in its heritage of excellence and experience that stems from a unique melting pot of backgrounds and cultures.

Fresh N Natural Foods Pte Ltd in Singapore is the exclusive distributor of two quality USA cheese brands – Tillamook from Oregon and Organic Valley from Wisconsin. Both offer a comprehensive range of cheeses that are ready to be enjoyed anytime on its own; used in a variety of recipes; or simply paired with your favourite tipple or beverage of choice.

We were sent a selection of cheeses from both brands and enjoyed them tremendously. Mostly, we always had the impression that USA cheese is more processed and mass-marketed, with an emphasis on keep prices affordable rather than focusing on higher quality and more natural end products. Tillamook and Organic Valley helped break that stereotype.

In the USA, cheese is produced in all 50 states, with Wisconsin and California leading in production. Each state has its own unique environmental and cultural characteristics that make the cheese it produces an important addition to the American cheese portfolio.

Whilst mozzarella and cheddar are the most popular USA cheeses for export, there are over 1,000 cheese varieties to be found from coast to coast, including the American Originals, a group of cheeses that are quintessentially American, including cream cheese that is used to spread on top of a bagel or the Pepper Jack on top of a cheeseburger. With so many different types of cheeses that USA offers, from Cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella to Provolone and Cream Cheese, to name a few, the possibilities are endless and there is something for everyone.

Tillamook from Oregon

Founded in 1909, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), an independent, farmer-owned dairy co-op has been dedicated to doing things “the Tillamook Way” for 112 years, which entails caring for their farmer-owners as they upkeep the land, which sustains healthier cows that provide better milk. This, in turn, produces high quality cheese always made with rBST (Recombinant bovine somatotropin)-free milk and the cheddars have been heat-shocked (instead of pasteurised) and feature proprietary cultures that deliver Tillamook cheese’s signature texture and flavour.

As a testimonial of the brand’s success, Tillamook has won over 750 awards over the last century for their range of cheeses.

The range of Tillamook cheeses available in Singapore consists of Slices, Shreds and Snack Portions.

Organic Valley from Wisconsin

Started in 1988 by a group of seven Midwest family farmers, who were driven more by principles than profits, Organic Valley has since grown into a cooperative of nearly 1,800 family farms and 955 employees, who share the same commitment to bring the best natural, organic dairy products to the people across the country in ways that do the most good.

Relying on many generations of farming wisdom, combined with the latest science on organic farming practices that encourage regenerative agriculture, the products are made naturally with no genetically modified organisms (GMOs), synthetic hormones, antibiotics or toxic pesticides added. Organic Valley takes pride in their cheeses – from Midwestern recipes like Colby to Italian provolone and Greek feta, they combine time-honored recipes with pasture-raised milk to make the tastiest cheese in the country.

Organic Valley cheeses available in Singapore include Slices, Shreds, Stringles, Ricotta and Cream Cheese varieties.

Both brands are available at Cold Storage, Fairprice Finest and Hyper, Meidiya and Isetan Orchard supermarkets and online via Redmart and Amazon.