Artisan Cheese Workshop
Thursday - Saturday, Feb. 29-March 2, 2024
Time:
Day 1 - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Day 2 - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Day 3 - 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location:
Michigan State University Dairy Plant
474 S. Shaw Lane
E. Lansing, MI 48824
22-Hour Class
This 3-day workshop will teach participants the basics of cheesemaking and participants will make 3 different cheeses. No prior experience is necessary. The business of cheesemaking, requirements and marketing will all be discussed as well.
Participants should complete pre-requisite on-line training on food safety with dairy products.
Registration Information
The cost of the 22-hour course is $525 per person. If you already took the course and are interested in retaking the workshop, the cost is $275.
Instructors
Classes are taught by two award-winning commercial cheesemakers (proprietors of Leelanau Cheese) and MSU Extension educators.
Topics Covered
- Sanitation and food safety review
- Basics of cheesemaking
- Starter cultures & varieties
- Lactic acid cheeses
- Salting, flavoring, molding, packaging cheeses
- Cheddar lab
- Mozzarella lab - direct acidification, flavoring
- Business planning and budgets
- Network for sales
What you will learn in this three-day Artisan Cheesemaking Workshop:
- How to make both hard and soft cheeses
- The art and science of making fine cheese
- Proper work space etiquette and sanitation
- Facility and equipment design for food safety
- The importance of starting with high quality milk
- Understanding and using cultures for cheese varieties
- Planning your artisan cheese business
All cheesemaking raw materials, tools and equipment will be provided for your use during the workshop.
A fun, cheese tasting event will be included.
Prerequisites: All class registrants must enroll in and complete (pass) the following two free on-line courses sections on facility design and sanitation, prior to attending the three-day Artisan Cheese Workshop.
https://www.3-a.org/knowledge-center-landing
- 3.0 Facility Design & Environmental Controls
- 4.0 Basics of Cleaning and Sanitizing
Certification of completion needs to be emailed to Phil Durst at durstp@msu.edu, prior to the workshop.
Accommodations
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the event contact two weeks prior to the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.