Why the US government keeps 635,000 tonnes of cheese in caves

Simon Edward • July 8, 2024

Deep below Missouri, you can find huge caves stacked with "government cheese". But why? Let's find out.

Imagine you were out exploring and you found a mountain of cheese. Perhaps you stumbled upon a cool, airy cave – and as your eyes adjusted to the darkness, you noticed billions of kilograms of processed yellow cheddar.

Wouldn't that be something?

Well, it might surprise you to know that cheese caves are real (kinda). However, it would be virtually impossible to stumble upon one.

There are a few reasons for this. The first is that these "cheese caves" aren't exactly caves, at least in the traditional sense. Let's explore.

Where are the cheese caves?

The cheese caves are actually converted salt mines in Missouri (located in the centre of the US, geographically speaking). These mines house hundreds of rooms lit by fluorescent lighting and kept at a chill two degrees Celsius.

So, while you might have pictured heaps of cheese dumped in a damp, drippy cavern, the reality is a little less fantastical. The cheese sits on shelving units inside boring, unadorned, temperature-controlled rooms.

Why is the cheese housed underground?

The cheese has to be there for a reason, right? Well, yes. And to learn the reason, we must delve deep into the fascinating world of government subsidies.

A quick refresher. Governments can subsidise various goods and services as they see fit. For instance, Germany subsidised daycare centres at a generous 90%. So, if a daycare costs €100 a day, the government will spend €90 and the taxpayer will only pay €10.

Governments routinely subsidise agricultural products. In the US, corn, soy and dairy products are the most heavily subsidised.

In the case of agricultural subsidies, there are various ways to pay so the consumer does not have to eat the costs. In some cases, the government guarantees a salary to farmers. This means that no matter how much they sell, they'll make a living wage.

This was common after the Great Depression. At the time, the US needed more crops for its ongoing war efforts. However, farmers weren't willing to take the financial risk, having lived through the series of crop-devastating droughts known as the Dust Bowl.

In the case of cheese, however, the government buys the product directly and sets a large order. This guarantees income but also gives the US a product it can distribute as it sees fit.

Why does the US want so much cheese, though?

A little history

While the current stockpiling of government cheese (it's really called that) started in the 1970s, the US actually began hoarding cheese in the 1950s, after World War II. It was housed in small storage centres and didn't equal the volume held today (over one billion pounds!)

The cheese was kept in reasonable amounts. Like other products, it was stored in slight surplus by the government in case of an emergency. That was until 1979, when a disaster wiped out demand and President Jimmy Carter decided to help the dairy farmers.

Carter put in a large large order of cheese. The plan was that the government would hold on to it so the dairy farming industry wouldn't collapse.

When Ronald Reagan took office the following year, he had to decide whether he would keep the order. The dairy lobby won him over – and so he continued the practice of ordering large volumes of cheese at reduced prices.

With two US presidents ordering such vast amounts, the media began running pieces on the practice. Even though the US government had been keeping stores of cheese for decades, a punditry storm ensued and government cheese hit the cultural zeitgeist.

In culture

Reagan decided to give the cheese to those on welfare for free or at a reduced cost.

Thoughts and reflections on government cheese vary widely because millions of people have experienced it. However, within the larger culture, there are three main ways to digest the experience.

First, there are some who actually enjoy the taste of government cheese. It is dense and hardy, to be sure. But while many find it bland, some enjoy it and remember eating it as a child or even well into adulthood.

Picture of a grilled cheese sandwich on multigrain bread.

Many internet videos and articles can be found of people who grew up with this cheese as a staple of their diet and have created unique recipes based around it.

Second, there are those who have never experienced government cheese and aren't even sure what it is. It's fun to introduce the concept to a friend who's never heard of it. Just be prepared for lots of questions.

The third response is frustration. Some are frustrated that those on welfare are insulted with inferior cheese products instead of placing more money on SNAP cards.

Others are simply frustrated with the general practice of hoarding food, as they feel it juts up against legitimate human rights issues. After all, is it right to stockpile food when so much of the world's population faces food poverty? It's one to think about, that's for sure.

Final thoughts

So, for now, the US will keep its tonnes of cheese safely tucked underground. It's pretty inaccessible. Even if you find yourself wandering around Springfield, Missouri, it's unlikely you'll strike cheesy gold.

But who knows? Governments stockpile all kinds of things for all kinds of seasons. You never know what you may stumble across while searching underground.

If you'd like to search underground for a while, in a place that isn't filled with lacklustre dairy products (we promise), then consider a visit to Stump Cross Caverns. You'll find our ancient caves in Yorkshire, deep beneath the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Fancy an adventure? It's quick and easy to book your tickets online.

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