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Here's how to make the best cheese plate for the holidays
The average American consumes 34 pounds of cheese every year, an increase of 43% in the last 25 years, according to the USDA. They're also spending more, as per capita spending on cheese has increased 37% in the last eight years alone.
As cheese becomes an increasingly large part of the American diet, the $4 mapped out some of the biggest trends in the industry. Here are four trends to expect in the world of cheese in 2016.
Local
Sixty-two percent of consumers are more likely to purchase foods produced locally, according to Technomic. That is especially relevant when it comes to cheese. As consumers spend more money on the product, they're more willing to invest in specialty local products. In fact, specialty cheese production has doubled in Wisconsin in the last year.
Bold flavors
Good, old-fashioned cheddar just doesn't cut it in 2016. Flavored cheeses have grown 4.5% in volume sales, while unflavored cheeses only increased 0.5%, according to year-to-date data from the IRI in December. Look out for more cheeses mixing in herbs, garlic, and even berries in the coming year.
Curds
Curds are making a major comeback, with 17.3% growth in
Snacks
From 2012 to 2014, sales of protein-rich snacks increased by 89%, according to Mintel data. Cheese perfectly fits into this profile, as the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board reports that snacks generally are on the rise. Even chains like McDonald's are eager to get in on the cheesy snack game, as the fast-food company kicked off 2016 with a national roll out of $4.