Union Star Cheese Factory

The Tour

Cheesemaking starts at 4am, five days a week. On Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday the vats are making cheddar and cheese curds, which is when the 8am tours run, and on Tuesdays the factory makes mozzarella string cheese. Tours last about half an hour and you can join one already under way, though arriving before it ends gets you the freshest curd samples.

The Shop

The counter sells everything made on site: cheddars, curds, string cheese and flavoured muensters, with samples. It is open Monday to Saturday from 6am to 5pm and closed on Sundays.

Willow Creek Creamery, Berlin

The same family runs Willow Creek Creamery at W1965 Highway 21 in Berlin, about 30 minutes west of Oshkosh. Free tours there start at 9am on Monday and Wednesday and also last about 30 minutes. The Willow Creek shop opens Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 5pm. A third outlet, The Cheese Table in Neenah, runs cheese classes.

Getting There

The factory is about five miles south-east of Fremont, near Zittau, in farm country between Appleton and Oshkosh. You need a car.

Nearby

CheeseFest in Little Chute is about 40 minutes away on the first weekend of June. LaClare Family Creamery is under an hour south.