Posted on 03/06/2025 8:27:49 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. - 'Fromagination' Cheese Shop has sat across the street from the Capitol for 17 years. But the owner says this year, with executive orders and federal policies, he's concerned about the future of his business and the dairy industry.
“We want to showcase Wisconsin's rich treasure, and that's cheese,” owner and founder Ken Monteleone said.
And for 17 years, Ken Monteleone has been the final stop in that treasure's long journey.
“You know, from our dairy farmers, from our cheesemakers to the people that sell the cheese, it's a big industry that's not only important in Wisconsin, but across the country,” Monteleone said.
Roughly 80% of Fromagination’s inventory is from Wisconsin producers.
But now Monteleone thinks the future is not looking so "gouda," and needs to be fought for.
“It's a lot of chaos,” Monteleone said. “A lot of our cheesemakers have been coming to us with concerns.”
Monteleone felt he needed to take those concerns to the top, writing a letter to President Donald Trump.
“So, we're just keeping our ‘sharp’ eye on it and just letting our voices be heard,” he said.
He says what's been worrying him and his business partners are the Trump administration's handling of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the quote "demonization" and crackdown of immigrant labor, and USDA funding, which is already impacting some of his Wisconsin suppliers.
“A couple of them had grants pulled from them unexpectedly and unfortunately, a lot of the money had already been in motion being spent to improve their business model and structure. And just out of the blue, they no longer have those funds,” Monteleone said.
He also sees other agricultural initiatives in the area taking a hit.
“The CFA Coalition in Wisconsin, which is an organization with 80 local small-scale farmers, just lost a huge grant that was $500,000 that was unexpectedly taken from them,” Monteleone said.
He hopes others will join him in making their voices heard.
“You know, we want to hold our politicians and our government accountable,” Monteleone said. “95% of all the dairy farmers in Wisconsin are local, small, family-owned businesses, even though it represents $43 billion of our economy. We all pull together, so regardless of our political views, we are really here to bring to life the industry.”
Because while Wisconsin's treasure is cheese, for him, “it's the people. It's the hardworking people in our state that really bring to life the fruits of their labor.”
Grow up, cheeseheads. Cut your apron strings. Fly on your own. You aren’t children. You’ve been sucking on our teat far too long.
I don’t see them as whiners. They likely have real concerns, and this evil reprobate in Canada specifically is targeting them. Have never seen anything like it before.
https://dairylandsentinel.com/former-canadian-finance-minister-threatens-wisconsin-dairy-farmers/
Also, they’re probably a GOP voting block.
Don’t tell anyone, but I DO like the Vermont White Cheddar, Cabot brand. Hard to believe I can find it here in Wisconsin at Walmart; I guess, ‘The Cheese Mafia’ isn’t all that powerful. ;)
That said:
Wisconsin Wins Most Awards at the 2024 World Championship Cheese
Wisconsin Dominates World Cheese Awards 2023
Wisconsin Won The Most Awards - Mid-West Farm Report
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=Wisconsin+cheese+awards&atb=v393-1&ia=web
“Make the conditions appealing enough and you can get close to volunteer labor...”
One of my SILs volunteers at a local distillery, helping with the bottling. She gets a free bottle of whatever they’re bottling that day for her time and effort. Win/Win.
And it’s GREAT to be on her Christmas Gift List! ;)
As you well know, if he’s in Dane County it’s a sure thing that he’s likely to support a lot of leftist crap, and anyone who drives around SW Wisconsin sees a lot of dairy farms...and Trump signs.
We drive from Dodgeville to Platteville on a regular basis. Nothing much between those two towns other than dairy and beef farms and you’re right - MASSIVE pro-Trump signs along the major highway.
Makes my heart happy. :)
This owner should take up their problem with Canada that has over a 270% tariff on Cheese made in America.
No problem! Uncle Sam can buy it all and provide it to welfare recipients in lieu of EBT cards...
They should promote cheese, not fromage.
You’re doing great, President Trump. Keep it up!
Ken Monteleone yelped loudly when the Trump administration stopped Him from contently suckling on the Government teat!
I have to disagree. I’ll take Wisconsin and Vermont cheese any day over Cali.
If the Dane County [Madison] communists found out that he was less than a full socialist, they'd boycott his products and likely burn his farm.
You ain't never had Laack's Maple Cheddar, Bookshelf.
Indeed it couldn’t be due to gouging huh.
As soon as Trump was elected many with TDS increased prices.
California made a holiday of it.
Hw sounds like an idiot. If they make and sell here what’s the problem?
Must get subsidies.
I only buy Tillamook cheese from Oregon.
Tillamook is a great cheese brand, too. :)
I WAS BORN IN MADISON & RAISED IN MIDDLETON ON A DAIRY FARM.
WE MANAGED OUR FARM & SO DID ALL THE FARMS AROUND US-—WITH NOT A SINGLE ILLEGAL LABORER.
NONE in MY ONE ROOM GRADE SCHOOL
NONE IN MY 4 YEAR HIGH SCHOOL -NO MIDDLE SCHOOL
NONE IN MY 4-H CLUB.
NONE in ANY OF THE COMPANIES I WORKED AT IN MADISON-—
KROGER DIVISIONAL OFFICES-—OSCAR MAYER-—CUNA (Credit Union National Association) ( on Mineral Point road.)
We bought CHEESE all over the place.
DROVE all around So Wisconsin-—NO INVADERS .
“Another whiner found in, ‘The People’s Republic of Madistan.’ The sky falling! The sky is falling! President Trump HATES Cheeseheads! ;)”
Definitely a liberal with the stupid cutesy name ‘Fromagination’. I try to avoid businesses with names like that.
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