Which country produces Leerdammer cheese?
Beemster cheese Combination"). In 1950 the cheese factory "Neerlandia" in Stompetoren was added. Finally, in 1991 "De Combinatie" joined with another cooperative, "De Vechtstreek", forming CONO Cheesemakers. In the seventies, there was growing competition in the Dutch cheese market. This led to the introduction of "Beemster kaas" (Beemster cheese). Its handicraft nature results from the hand-stirring of the curd plus the ripening in different temperatures and humidities. CONO has about 475 farmers, and is one of the country's smallest such cooperatives; it produces about 30,000 tons of Beemster each year. In 2001 the Queen of The Netherlands awarded the title 'By Appointment
Leerdammer cheese is produced in Schoonrewoerd in the municipality of Leerdam, the city which gave Leerdammer its name. Generic Leerdammer-style cheese is sold as Maasdam cheese. Groupe Bel has a second factory producing Leerdammer in Dalfsen, in the eastern province of Overijssel. The cheese was developed by Cees Boterkooper, who had owned a small dairy in Schoonrewoerd since 1914, and Bastiaan Baars, who ran a cheese shop in a nearby village. The two met in 1970, and soon afterward decided to collaborate. They worked on a cheese that could compete with Gouda and Edam. Leerdammer was launched in 1977. It is