Hilmar Cheese Company
Encyclopedia
Hilmar Cheese Company is a cheese
and whey
products manufacturer with it's main site located in Hilmar
, California
. The privately-owned company has over 1000 employees and specializes in the mass production of monterey jack
, pepper jack, colby, colby-jack, flavored jacks, mozzarella
, Hispanic and cheddar cheese
. As of 2011, Hilmar Cheese processes two million gallons of milk
per day producing over two million pounds of cheese per day. The company's Hilmar facility produces more cheese per year from a single site than any other cheese manufacturer in the world.
Hilmar Ingredients, a division of Hilmar Cheese Company, was founded in 2004 to market the company's whey products to the world. It currently produces over half a million pounds of whey protein
and lactose
powder per day and ships to over 40 countries worldwide.
In March 2006, Hilmar cheese settled a lawsuit with the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board over alleged violations of process water treatment and waste discharge. The settlement amounted to $3 million most of which will be put toward an environmental study. However, it allows the company to continue with its current process water discharge.
In 2007, Hilmar Cheese opened a new cheese processing plant in Dalhart
, Texas
. The Company's new cheese and whey protein
processing plant in Texas
is the company’s first processing plant outside of its Hilmar
, California
, facility and corporate headquarters.
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
and whey
Whey
Whey or Milk Serum is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained. It is a by-product of the manufacture of cheese or casein and has several commercial uses. Sweet whey is manufactured during the making of rennet types of hard cheese like cheddar or Swiss cheese...
products manufacturer with it's main site located in Hilmar
Hilmar, California
Hilmar-Irwin is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. The population was 5,197 at the 2010 census, up from 4,807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The privately-owned company has over 1000 employees and specializes in the mass production of monterey jack
Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack is an American semihard cheese made using cow's milk. It is commonly sold by itself, or mixed with Colby to make a marbled cheese known as Colby-Jack . Cheddar-Jack varieties are also available....
, pepper jack, colby, colby-jack, flavored jacks, mozzarella
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is an Italian Traditional Speciality Guaranteed food product. The term is used for several kinds of Italian cheeses that are made using spinning and then cutting :...
, Hispanic and cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese
Cheddar cheese is a relatively hard, yellow to off-white, and sometimes sharp-tasting cheese, produced in several countries around the world. It has its origins in the English village of Cheddar in Somerset....
. As of 2011, Hilmar Cheese processes two million gallons of milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
per day producing over two million pounds of cheese per day. The company's Hilmar facility produces more cheese per year from a single site than any other cheese manufacturer in the world.
History
The company was founded in 1984 by 12 families located in the California central valley; it began production in 1985.Hilmar Ingredients, a division of Hilmar Cheese Company, was founded in 2004 to market the company's whey products to the world. It currently produces over half a million pounds of whey protein
Whey protein
Whey protein is a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production. Some preclinical studies in rodents have suggested that whey protein may possess anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer properties; however, human data is lacking...
and lactose
Lactose
Lactose is a disaccharide sugar that is found most notably in milk and is formed from galactose and glucose. Lactose makes up around 2~8% of milk , although the amount varies among species and individuals. It is extracted from sweet or sour whey. The name comes from or , the Latin word for milk,...
powder per day and ships to over 40 countries worldwide.
In March 2006, Hilmar cheese settled a lawsuit with the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board over alleged violations of process water treatment and waste discharge. The settlement amounted to $3 million most of which will be put toward an environmental study. However, it allows the company to continue with its current process water discharge.
In 2007, Hilmar Cheese opened a new cheese processing plant in Dalhart
Dalhart, Texas
Dalhart is a city in Dallam and Hartley counties in the U.S. state of Texas, and the county seat of Dallam County. The population was 7,237 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1901, Dalhart is named for its location on the border of Dallam and Hartley counties. Dalhart sits at the intersection of U.S....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The Company's new cheese and whey protein
Whey protein
Whey protein is a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production. Some preclinical studies in rodents have suggested that whey protein may possess anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer properties; however, human data is lacking...
processing plant in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
is the company’s first processing plant outside of its Hilmar
Hilmar, California
Hilmar-Irwin is a census-designated place in Merced County, California, United States. The population was 5,197 at the 2010 census, up from 4,807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, facility and corporate headquarters.