Cheese From WWI to WWII : Overview

World War I to the end of World War II encompassed the years that span from early 1914 to the mid to late 1940’s. This era involved major events such as the Great Depression and the increese in large factory productions, even in the cheese industry. The resulting competition with the factories made it difficult for small-scale farmers to make a reasonable profit. During the Great Depression jobs were scarce. Factory work provided a more secure form of employment and was a liberation from poverty and struggle for many Americans. This especially true for poor farmers, who could not afford to sell their cheeses as cheaply as the factories could. The articles and writings found in this area of the exhibit will touch upon the large growth of dairy production in factories, new laws formed in terms of health and safety with the FDA, and the increase in the rate of consumption.