The Tillamook County Creamery Association, a farmer-owned cooperative, will start the celebration of its 100th anniversary on Feb. 6 with a kick-off event at the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
Formed in 1909, The TCCA was established by ten independent cheese-making plants in Tillamook County that wanted to establish a code of quality control for dairy products produced in the area that could then be marketed as a whole instead of separately.
The association has since earned a reputation as one of the nation’s premier makers of cheese, and now includes over 150 dairy farms, most of which are still in Tillamook County.
Although its process has evolved, its cheddar recipe remains the same, and has been passed down for generations to continue the essence of TCCA cheese-making.
"We at TCCA have a great deal of pride in our history as a farmer-owned co-operative and in continuing to deliver quality dairy products to our customers," said Harold Strunk, president and CEO of TCCA. "We are proud to celebrate our 100 year old traditions and are excited to share our anniversary products and events with our consumers."
In order to provide the most consistent quality, the TCCA built a production facility in the late 1940s to be used by 4 of its major cheese makers. By 1968 all of the dairy farmers under the TCCA had consolidated to the one facility. Although it has gone through several renovations, the plant is in the same location today, just north of Tillamook on Hwy. 101.
Throughout the years, TCCA has expanded its dairy product line to include ice cream, butter, sour cream and yogurt. By 1948, the group had developed into a marketing agency that sold these dairy products under the Tillamook brand.
In anticipation of the 100th anniversary TCCA has launched a new website www.TillamookFanClub.com which complements www.TillamookCheese.com. TCCA also launched its first ever, online store. For more information on the TCCA’s 100th anniversary and the events surrounding it, visit www.TillamookFanClub.com.