Cheese

In 1851 the nation's first cheese factory was opened in Rome, NY, Oneida county. By 1975, 90 percent of cheese produced in New York state was made in factories, replacing much of the earlier manufacturing of cheese in private homes.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Cuba, New York, was known as the "cheese center of the world." Each week in Cuba, NY, the price for cheddar cheese was set and that price was "The Price" nationwide.

The New York State Museum of Cheese in Verona, NY explores the history of cheese making and its relationship to the importance of the Erie Canal in New York State during the 19th century.

Today, there is a group of New York state farmers, especially in the Finger Lakes region, making artisanal cheeses. This movement has led to a cheese trail with some wine tours doing pairings with local cheese.