Learn About CannonBelles
In 2011, Jackie Ohmann and Deeann Lufkin tried making cheese at home. Their first batch was a quick mozzarella, and although they thought it was tasty at first, they soon decided it was “a flavorless cross between mozzarella and ‘The Blob.’” So they tried again. And again. Until one day, they realized their homemade cheese was so good, they could sell it. They called in help from their dairy-expert friend Kathy Hupf, and soon the trio was off, taking classes in artisan cheese making and food safety, joining the American Cheese society, touring various cheese plants in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and making cheese at the University of Minnesota Pilot Plant. But where would they make a home for their new cheese making enterprise?
Cannon Falls, Minn. heard about Jackie, Deeann, and Kathy and thought they would be a good fit for the local food movement in town. After seven years, CannonBelles Cheese finally opened their own cheese plant in Cannon Falls, making their first cheese in their new facility in May 2022. They now make gouda, colby, cheddars, and cheese curds in various flavors.
CannonBelles is deeply ingrained in the local foods world, and they prioritize selling to co-ops. With local, cooperative stores, they’re able to interact with customers, get feedback, and cater to a community that’s a strong supporter of local business. They enjoy offering cheeses in a co-op setting because many local products found in co-ops might not normally be available in conventional grocery stores. In addition to the cheese making arm of their business, CannonBelles also has a coffee and ice cream shop in Cannon Falls… but if you can’t make it out there, you can find their cheeses at Seward Co-op stores.