National Cheddar Day Date in the current year: February 13, 2024

Cheddar cheese, usually called simply cheddar, is a relatively hard, pale yellow or yellow-orange cheese that typically has a sharp, pungent, often slightly earthy flavor. It was named after the English village of Cheddar in Somerset where this cheese is believed to have originated. Cheddar was famous for cheese making as early as the 12th century. Around the 19th century, the production of cheddar was modernized and standardized thanks to Joseph Harding, who is often referred to as the “father of cheddar cheese”.

From the United Kingdom (where it is the most popular cheese, by the way), cheddar has spread across the world. Unlike some other European cheeses, cheddar doesn’t have a protected designation of origin, therefore the style and quality of cheddar cheeses produced in different countries may vary greatly. However, cheddar manufactured from local milk within Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset using traditional methods has the PDO name “West Country Farmhouse Cheddar”.

Cheddar is the most popular cheese in the United States, at least according to a survey that was conducted by the global public opinion company YouGov in 2021: almost one fifth of adults that took part in the survey named it as their go-to cheese. A survey conducted by the International Dairy Foods Association has shown cheddar to be the second most popular cheese in the United Stats after mozzarella.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, cheddar is one of the top produced cheeses in the United States, although the USDA groups cheddar with Colby and Monterey Jack under the umbrella name of American cheese. The biggest center of cheddar cheese production in the United States is Wisconsin. Cheddar is also produced by dairy farms in California, Idaho, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont. American cheddar comes in several varieties: mild, medium, sharp, extra sharp, white, Vermont, and New York style. In addition, some processed cheeses are labeled as “cheddar flavored”.

National Cheddar Day was established in 2019 by the Tillamook Country Creamery Association, a dairy cooperative that includes nearly 60 dairy farms in Oregon, to celebrate its 110th birthday and honor everyone’s favorite cheese. On the occasion of the holiday, Tillamook hosts a variety of events and activities ranging from cooking workshops to cheddar giveaways.

There are many ways to celebrate National Cheddar Day even if there are no events near you. You can cook your favorite dish that contains cheddar, be it a cheeseburger, a classic grilled cheese sandwich, mac and cheese or apple cheddar pie, enjoy a glass of wine and a cheeseboard, learn new recipes with cheddar cheese, visit your local dairy farm to see how cheddar is made, invite your friends and family over for a grilled cheese cook-off or fondue party, and spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #NationalCheddarDay and #CheddarDay.