National Cheese Day is on Friday, June 4, 2027, and it falls on June 4 every year. It celebrates cheese in all its forms, from sharp cheddar and stretchy mozzarella to soft brie and crumbly feta. It’s an easy day to build a cheese board or try something new.
When Is National Cheese Day?
It’s always June 4. It’s an unofficial food day, and June is also National Dairy Month, so stores often feature cheese specials.
Who Started National Cheese Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Why Celebrate Cheese?
Americans have never eaten more of it. Per person, U.S. cheese consumption hit a record 40.54 pounds in 2023, according to USDA Economic Research Service data reported by Cheese Reporter. It was the third record year in a row.
America’s favorite cheeses
Mozzarella led at 12.45 pounds per person, ahead of cheddar for the 14th straight year. Cheddar set its own record at 11.83 pounds. American-type cheeses as a group, including Colby and Monterey Jack, outpaced Italian-type cheeses.
Where cheese comes from
Wisconsin made 25% of the nation’s cheese in 2024, according to Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. Mozzarella made up 30.8% of the state’s output and cheddar 20.1%.
If Wisconsin were a country, it would rank fourth in the world for cheese production, behind the U.S., Germany and France, Volume One calculates.
Smaller categories are growing
Hispanic-style cheeses, such as queso fresco, hit a record 1.15 pounds per person in 2023. Processed cheese rose to 8.54 pounds.
How to Celebrate National Cheese Day
- Build a cheese board: pick one hard, one soft and one blue, plus fruit, nuts and crackers.
- Let it warm up: serve cheese at room temperature for the fullest flavor, about 30 minutes out of the fridge.
- Do a cheddar flight: compare mild, sharp and aged cheddar side by side.
- Make a grilled cheese upgrade: mix cheddar with Gruyère and add a thin layer of mustard.
- Try a new cheese: ask a cheese counter for a sample of something you’ve never had.
- Visit a creamery: many dairy farms offer tours and tastings.
- Cook with it: make a baked mac and cheese with a mix of cheddar and smoked gouda.
- Pair it: try sharp cheddar with apple slices or blue cheese with honey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular cheese in America?
Mozzarella, by pounds eaten per person. It has led cheddar for 14 straight years, largely thanks to pizza.
Which state makes the most cheese?
Wisconsin. It produced about a quarter of U.S. cheese in 2024.
How should I store cheese?
Wrap it in wax or parchment paper, then loosely in plastic, and keep it in the fridge’s vegetable drawer. Hard cheeses keep longer than soft ones.