Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook
“As the Tillamook County
Creamery Association continues to expand into the
national market and adapts to the ever changing face of
the business world, the focus remains to produce
consistent, premium quality, best tasting dairy
products.”
History plays a large role in the
making of Tillamook Cheese. When settlers first came to
the Tillamook Valley, they recognized that the temperate
climate and abundant rain were ideal for dairy farming.
Because of Tillamook’s remote location, pioneering
farmers needed a more enduring product to survive the
long trip to Portland. At first, butter was the
commodity of choice, but in 1894, a Canadian cheesemaker
named Peter McIntosh brought the cheddar cheese recipe
to the Tillamook Valley.
As the production of cheese took
hold in Tillamook, the need arose for higher standards
of quality and consistence. In 1909, ten of the local
cooperative cheese plants formed the Tillamook County
Creamery Association and soon after all the cheese
plants in Tillamook County joined TCCA. Since then,
TCCA has grown into the number two selling brand of
natural chunk cheese in the United States.
By 1918, TCCA started an
advertising program for Tillamook cheese, and shortly
thereafter, the Tillamook brand was trademarked. Today
the Tillamook brand still stands as a symbol of premium
quality and is one of the most recognized brand names in
the western United States.
Part of the challenge of becoming a
national brand has been to keep up with the ensuing
growth. During the 1990s, the board of directors and
the executive staff of TCCA felt that move into the 21st
century, it would be necessary to expand operations to a
satellite plant. In 2000, TCCA began construction on
another cheese plant located in Boardman. Careful
measures were taken to ensure that the tradition of
cheesemaking remains unchanged. In 2004, the board
approved the decision to expand the Boardman facility.
Construction began in 2005 and was
completed in September 2006. When running at full
capacity, the expansion will increase TCCA’s total
cheese output by 50 percent.
Our board consists of our member
producers representing our three membership districts.
They meet once a month to set the policy and direction
of the cooperative. This democratic governing body
seeks out the best interest of not only the
organization, but of the individual farmer and of the
community in general. In today’s business world, TCCA
feels that it is necessary to maintain the integrity of
our organization and to look at the successes of our
past as we determine our course for the future. This
tradition of excellence is known as the Tillamook
Tradition, and outlines our guiding principles (quality,
cooperation, integrity, stewardship and customer
responsiveness), which TCCA strives to maintain in its
day-to-day business.
As the Tillamook County Creamery
Association continues to expand into the national market
and adapts to the ever-changing face of the business
world, the focus remains to produce consistent, premium
quality, best tasting dairy products. With sales
growing year by year and operations reaching greater
capacities, Tillamook Cheese will continue to provide
its complete line of premium dairy products to consumers
not only here in the Northwest, but across the United
States.
Note: This is a slightly edited
version of a printed historical piece from Tillamook
County Creamery Association.
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These are authentic stories from real
farmers. Any editorial content does not
necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Agri-Business
Council of Oregon or our members.
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