Understanding Cheese as a Commodity
World Market Pulse submits:
It may sound cheesy, but what is really cheesy is that cheese, being such a widely consumed commodity, was not traded on The Chicago Board until recently. In Europe cheese is a key dairy commodity, while in the US the cheese industry is largely focused on 3 or 4 states. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that some European cheeses are so smelly that most common American and Asian consumers would run away never looking behind.
Cheese, a highly nutritious and palatable food, is of significant value in the diet because it contains almost all of the protein and essential minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients of milk. According to ancient records passed down through the centuries, the making of cheese dates back more than 4,000 years. No one really knows who made the first cheese. According to an ancient legend, it was made accidentally by an Arabian merchant who put his supply of milk into a pouch made from a sheep’s stomach, as he set out on a day’s journey across the desert. The rennet in the lining of the pouch, combined with the heat of the sun, caused the milk to separate into curd and whey. That night he found that the whey satisfied his thirst, and the cheese (curd) had a delightful flavor which satisfied his hunger. Travelers from Asia are believed to have brought the art of cheesemaking to Europe. In fact, cheese was made in many parts of the Roman Empire when it was at its height.
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