California’s dairy industry set new production records in 2007, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) preliminary report for 2007.

The 2.2 billion pounds of cheese that California produced in 2007 was 3.6% higher than 2006, which also set a record. Cheese production in California has increased by more than 80% over the past decade, growing from 1.25 billion pounds in 1998. Today, California is the second-largest producer of cheese and is home to more than 50 cheesemakers who produce 250 varieties and styles.
The state’s milk production also reached a record high in 2007, totaling 40.6 billion pounds, a 4.8% increase over 2006, according to the CDFA. California is the nation’s leading milk producer and nearly half of California’s milk supply goes to cheese production. California produces about 21% of the nation’s total milk supply.