text: It’s no secret that one of the things I enjoy most about my job as marketing director for Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is traveling throughout the countryside, admiring quaint farmsteads and meeting with friendly farm families. But I have a confession to make… I particularly enjoy my visits to America’s Dairyland where I’m sure to pick up a bag or two of squeaky, fresh cheese curds along the way.
  My favorite curds are those from the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Ellsworth White Cheddar Cheese Curds taste like no other because they’re made from 30,000 cows on 495 family farms in Wisconsin and Minnesota, says plant superintendent Joe Hines. The creamery’s farmer/producers are very fussy about quality, and it shows in every fresh batch of cheese curds they produce. Click here to learn more about the curd-making process.
  About 160,000 pounds of 100% All Natural Premium Cheddar Cheese Curds are made each day in Ellsworth. These curds are sold online and through on-location retail stores in Ellsworth and Comstock, which are open daily. Companies also buy Ellsworth curds in 500-pound barrels and transform them into an array of processed cheese products. Whey, a thin liquid, is dried and sold mostly to food processors that turn it into sweet treats like candy bars.
  There’s a good chance you’ve tasted Ellsworth curds without even realizing it! Not only are the creamery’s Real® products used by food processors, but its curds are popular among fair vendors. About 400 pounds of curds are deep fried daily and served gooey, hot at the Iowa State Fair in August. Ellworth curds have also made their way to state fairs in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Alaska.
  But why wait for the fair? Road trip this weekend to the Ellsworth Cheese Curd Festival. This food-filled event includes a cheese-curd-eating contest plus a parade, bingo, live auction, pedal tractor pull and craft vendors.
  Those who are looking forward to spending a weekend at home can fix up an appetizer in minutes. I’m certainly looking forward to trying Cheese Curds Wrapped in Bacon, which is featured below. This recipe sounds so simple and delicious that it has to be simply delicious, right? 🙂 I’m also planning to bake up a Cheese Curd Apple Pie. If this pie is a hit at the office on Monday, I just may bake it again for our annual Fourth of July potluck. More summer entertaining ideas are available online from Ellsworth Creamery.
  Cheese Curds Wrapped in Bacon
  - 1 bag of fresh cheese curds
  - 1 pounds of bacon
  - Cook 1 pound of bacon; drain and cool.
  - Take cheese curds and wrap with bacon; put toothpick through to hold together.
  Serve as an appetizer; plan for at least 3 per person.