Milwaukee, WI—CheeseExpo will return here April 12-14, 2002, with more industry education seminars and workshops to match a record number of exhibits for dairy processors.

The three-day expo, hosted by the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), will be held at Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Center.

Members of the Innovation Center for US Dairy, US. Dairy Export Council, (USDEC) and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) will lead the seminar lineup on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC, will moderate the RELCO Opening Keynote on April 13. Harden will lead a panel of industry executives exploring opportunities for US dairy processors to advance international sales and sustainability efforts.

Four breakout education sessions will follow, including a cheese and whey export seminar with USDEC staff.

Representatives from DFW will examine domestic opportunities for value-added cheese sales, and CDR will unveil “hot topics” in dairy research – five recently-completed cheese research projects.

The popular “artisan track” will focus on value-added cheese production and advanced technology available in the new CDR building on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

CheeseExpo closes the morning of April 13 with an invitation to US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to address a general session.

Each afternoon will be dedicated to more than 600 exhibits of dairy processing and packaging equipment, automation, ingredients, software, and services.

The final day opens with the WCMA Recognition Breakfast, sponsored by DSM Food Specialties. Members will be recognized with several top awards, including the new WCMA Luminary Award for sales and marketing leaders.

Four educational opportunities will follow the WCMA Recognition Breakfast.

The Innovation Center for US Dairy will partner with CDR to discuss dairy product safety and sanitation, including a talk and panel on establishing a food safety culture in your dairy plant.

WCMA will focus on a key concern among processors: recruiting and retaining an effective workforce.

CDR will host a session on cheese quality, including brine management, phage monitoring and control, and flavor defects in cheddar cheese. Event hosts will also team up for a workshop on creating an effective cheese grading program at manufacturing sites.

The early registration deadline is Feb. 1 for a 20 percent discount on full registration rates. Seminar updates and online registration is available at CheeseExpo.org. For questions, contact [email protected].