07/12/07 Helping small cheesemakers

Idahoans interested in developing small-scale dairy processing operations or improving the farmstead or artisan cheeses they're already making can get subsidized expert help. University of Idaho's Drew Dalgetty of Tech Help says this program offers an advanced cheese making class in addition to the startup classes. DALGETTY "We received some funding from the United Dairymen of Idaho to help start this program and also that the milk industry in Idaho is growing so rapidly we're just trying to help some of these small dairies stay in business." Between now and April 2009 participants can get the assistance of a master cheese maker and can work with the program's sales and marketing experts to improve market visibility and sales revenues. They can learn how to prevent food contamination, design a quality-control program and develop nutritional labels that meet FDA requirements. DALGETTY "At the Food Tech Center we're considering building a separate dairy room here so that some of these small operations may be able to come to us in the near future and get started here and then if they see that its feasible they can go onto their own." You can reach Dalgetty in Caldwell at 795-5333. Applications have to be in by September 14th. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott