Video: Hidden Treasures — MSU MAFES Cheese Store

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Cheese is a classic addition to any tailgate party, and a staple for holiday platters. Mississippi State University is proving that true. The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES Store, is busy shipping cheese for the holidays.

“We’ve been taking orders since July 1, and we’re almost out of all of our cheeses. We have customers that have been buying cheese for 30 some years. We ship cheese to all four corners of the country. Our biggest seller is the Edam. It’s what we started making 75 years ago. We’ve developed other kinds with the cheddar and jalapeno. And vallagret is becoming a real popular cheese,” said MAFES Store manager Troy Weaver.

100,000 blocks of cheese will make their way from the MSU campus this season. 40,000 Edam alone. It’s all made at MSU in the Herzer Dairy Plant.

“It’s a process that takes several days to complete. Then once the cheese is made, it’s aged for 90 days before it’s released to us to sell,” Weaver said.

There are other products available too.

“Jellies, barbeque sauces, muscadine juice, peanuts, ice cream and meat, but cheese is our bread and butter,” Weaver said.

At the MAFES Store all of the dairy products are made with milk from the cows on South Farm.

“It’s a tradition. Next to our football team being number one, we’re probably the most visited place on campus this time of year. We support Mississippi companies. It’s a good way to support your university and your state,” Weaver said.

The MAFES Store is located on Stone Boulevard near the Junction. They are open on game days. Also, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can make Christmas orders until the supply runs out, which could only be two more weeks. Visit www.msucheese.com or call (662) 325-2338 for more information.