The Delta independent., 1908-07-24
The Cheese Industry in Colorado.

The manufacture of cheese in Colo
rado has not amounted to what it
should have in the past, not because it
was difficult to make cheese of the
highest quality in Colorado, for some
of our factories today are making as
good cheese as is produced anywhere;
not because our climate interferes with
its manufacture, this idea has long
been proven fallacy; not because the
manufacture of this Staple is not
profitable way of disposing of milk, it
has been practiced in all dairy states
for years; on the contrary, this indus
try has not beeen success for entirely
different reasons.
1t costs no more to produce milk in
our foot hill region on native grasses
for pasture with alfalfa hay and small
grains, than in the dairy states. Why
then does our cheese industry decline
when such natural conditions exist as
should make it profitable and prosper
Gus? For thirteen years an act has
been on the statutes of our state which
provided that all Colorado cheese should
be legibly stamped, Colorado Full
Cream" when it contains 35 per cent
butter-fat or more lin comparison
with total Solids "Skim" when it con-
taIns less than that amount, and
'Immitation" when foreign fats or
oils are part of its composition. This
law is manifestly proper one; but an
injustice which worked great damage
to the cheese industry was done when
cheese imported into the State was not
forced to meet the same requirements
as to labelling. We recommend the
passing of a special law to cover this
point. since specific enactments are
more effective than rulings of any COM
mission. However since we lack such
law and a ruling to this effect is
possible under the Food and Drugs
Act, this ruling has been made and
the Dairy Commission will enforce it.
Nor was the former discrimination
against our own manufacturer, the
cheese-maker, all that has hampered
what will some day be one of the grow
ing and prosperous industries of this
commonwealth. refer to discrimina-
tion by jobbers, grocers and consuming
public against Colorado cheese which
discrimination is without warrant. Let
me sight instances in proof. A few
years ago the attention of a former
Dairy Commissioner was called to the
fact that certain Colorado cheese
makers were branding their cheese
New York STAR" The Commissioner
then informed them that this branding
was illegal under our dairy law and
advised that the practice be discon-
tinued. The cheese-makers in question
answered him that whereas they were
able to get ready market at good
prices for.their cheese if branded New
York Cheese, that when labeled Colo
rado Full Cream" they were unable to
dispose of it except at loss. Where
upon the Commissioner did not. insist
on the stenciling of the product Colo
RADIO Full Cream" ETC., as provided by
law.
| can but condemn this action which
l am reliably informed was taken by
the Commissioner at that time. If the
law was wrong it should have been
proven so; if right, as it was and is, it
should have been enforced, and such
necessary amendments added ther eto
that the products of other states should
pass as strict inspection as our own.
The instance of misbranding men,
toned proves conclusively that the
grocers and consuming public discr imi-
mated unjustly against cheese of our
own manufacture. The better judg-
ment of citizens of Colorado will point
out the proper course to square the
injustice done this industry in the
Centennial State.
Let us give home industries our sup
port.
B. G. D. BISHOPP,
| State nairy