WASHINGTON STATE CHEESEMAKERS ASSOCIATIONPub 78
Pub 78
Programs
Educational Workshops for Cheesemakers
Education: Together with two in-kind sponsors of our USDA FMPP grant, we made three educational opportunities available to our membership: a Pasteurization Workshop (held and funded by Washington State University in April), a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) workshop and a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification course (both held and funded by Bates Consulting LLC in June). We worked with the organizers to schedule and promote these courses, as well as to educate our members about the courses and how to sign up for them. Among other individuals who were also able to attend these courses, 10 cheesemakers from our member creameries were able to attend these three trainings. We did not pay for the trainings, but did use grant funds for labor hours (26 hours total) used to coordinate the classes and notify our members about them. Cost: $1,154.40 (GRANT FUNDED - all from ED contractor pay)GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided––Meet the Cheesemakers Expo Support
Collaboration: USDA FMPP grant funds were used to support 5 cheesemakers' booths at "Meet the Cheesemakers," and industry-facing expo during the annual American Cheese Society Conference. Attendees included wholesalers, retailers, and cheesemongers from the region and around the world; this was a networking event that allowed our members to interact with possible new buyers and markets for their cheese, as well as to try other cheesemakers' cheeses and connect with them in-person. Funds covered the cost of each cheesemaker's table fees during the expo, including one table that housed two smaller cheesemakers. Grant funds also supported the creation of some marketing materials to be used at this and future events. (Funds were paid out by June 30, although the event was held on July 22)GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided––Cheesemaker Promotion Initiative
Promotion: A marketing initiative to promote our members was enacted over our social media and online channels. We post "cheesemaker spotlight" posts every month that include 8-12 facts about each creamery, accompanied by an engaging photo from the creamery. This spring we added a new feature to promote our other members, a monthly business member spotlight and a corporate sponsor shout-out, which are posted once per month. These posts explain what that member does and how their work supports local cheesemakers. We posted 107 posts that featured 16 of our members. Funds supported this project through the labor hours (19 total hours for this period) used by our executive directorGeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided––
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