American Cheese Society and Cherney Form Partnership

The American Cheese Society (ACS) and Cherney Microbiological Services have partnered to provide discounted testing to members of ACS. With the goal of enhancing cheese quality and safety by providing cost-effective solutions to ACS members, the partnership provides education, discounted services, simplified testing packages, and technical support. This program grew from the need to provide support for artisan, farmstead, and specialty cheese manufacturers. With new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations and impending deadlines for compliance, this partnership helps provide producers with access to needed resources at reduced costs.

Cherney’s almost 30-year history as a food safety testing provider within the dairy (specifically cheese) industry aligned seamlessly with ACS’s 35-year history of serving the cheese community through its focused mission and core values. “We listened to our members and Cherney listened to us,” said ACS Executive Director Nora Weiser. “Our members were looking for a simplified, cost-effective way to enhance the quality and safety of their products while ensuring compliance with the latest regulations.”

Knowing the struggle that small- to mid-size producers face, ACS and Cherney worked together with input from industry stakeholders to develop a streamlined “start to finish” testing program. Packages that address minimum testing requirements to enhance safety and compliance are important for encouraging participation in the program. All-inclusive packages are designed for ease of use, rapid results, consistent budget planning, and overall compliance. Providing members with additional support such as customized training, auditing, and consultation from Cherney’s technical support team extends the value of this partnership.

“At Cherney, we understand that there is a growing trend for locally-sourced food produced in smaller batches in the United States. While this trend has clear advantages to the consumer, it also creates challenges when it comes to food safety and regulatory compliance for the producer,” said Cherney CEO Stephen Kuchenberg. “Cherney is proud to partner with a great organization such as ACS to help their members succeed and meet the growing demand for their products. All in all, we see this as a great opportunity to drive food safety forward through a collaborative approach.”

For more information, contact Cherney at 920-406-8300 or customerservice@cherneymicro.com.