Project Title:  Sheep Cheese Market Analysis Round 2 (2004)  

Project Leader (s):  Andrew Dane, Barron/Chippewa County UW-Extension

Project Collaborators:  Tim Jergenson, Barron County UW Extension, Laurie Greenberg, WI Dairy Business Innovation Center (DBIC), Wisconsin Sheep Dairy CO-OP (WSDC)

Project Category: Marketing

Situation:  Northwestern Wisconsin is the center of sheep milk production in the Upper Midwest. A group of nine producers market their milk through the Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Cooperative (WSDC). The WSDC seeks to expand market share of their two existing sheep milk cheeses. In order to expand market share, the WSDC needs a better understanding of their target market. The Emerging Ag Markets Team is well positioned to assist this organization through networking, access to specialists, and facilitation assistance.

Response: 

• Conduct a market scan of current sheep milk cheese trends
• Conduct a focus group to better understand target market

Results:  

• Market scan completed

Focus group under development with UW-Eau Claire Business Department