UT Institute of Agriculture Announces “All Vol Cheese” for Sale by UT Students

Some future food scientists are saying “cheese” these days, and it has nothing to do with having their photo taken.

The University of Tennessee College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is introducing a product line called “All Vol Cheese” that will soon be available for purchase. Four flavors are offered — Checkerboard Mild Cheddar, Game Day Sharp Cheddar, Smokey’s Smoked Gouda and Torchbearer Jalapeno.

“All Vol Cheese” debuted at Ag Day on the UT Institute of Agriculture campus. The cheese is available for purchase through the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST), and during fundraisers by UT student clubs. You will also be able to purchase online at tiny.utk.edu/cheese

A gift box will be introduced in November for holiday sales. The cheese is packaged in 10-ounce bars, and gift boxes will accommodate between two and four bars of cheese. All proceeds benefit student programs at the UT Institute of Agriculture.

UTIA is partnering with Sweetwater Valley Farm in developing “All Vol Cheese.” The product is made at the company’s site in Loudon County, where a number of FST students held internships this past year.

“Sweetwater Valley Farm has been a trusted partner for several years,” says Mark Morgan, head of UT’s Food Science and Technology Department. “They helped our students learn about cheese-making from start to finish, all the way from raising the cows, to turning milk into cheese, and how it is packaged and sold to the market. Throughout the process, the students also learn about manufacturing and regulatory issues ““ preparing them for future employment in the industry.”

“Our cheese line is a joint effort between FST and a new public-private entrepreneurial program we’ve established called “Aginnovations,” says Bill Brown, dean of UT AgResearch. “Our goal is to help faculty, researchers and students turn their ideas into new businesses, whether internal or external to the university.”  

Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu  

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Contact: Chuck Denney, UTIA Marketing & Communications, 865-382-8058 (mobile), cmdenney@utk.edu