Cheddar Royalty: How Tillamook’s Award-Winning Cheese Is Boosting Oregon’s Bottom Line

Picture this: sun-dappled Oregon pastures, contented cows chewing the good grass, and a cheese so divine it scooped the World Cheese Awards’ 2024 Best Cheddar in the World. That’s right—Tillamook’s 2014 Maker’s Reserve Extra Sharp White Cheddar sat atop the cheddar hierarchy, chosen among nearly 4,800 cheeses from 47 countries by 244 judges in Portugal  . And let me tell you, that’s not just a gold star for taste—it’s a cheddar-filled vault of opportunity for the state.

If Oregon could speak in cheddar, it’d be saying, “Show me the money.” And the numbers don’t disappoint. Tillamook isn’t just a cheese brand—it’s an economic engine. The creamery employs nearly 900 Oregonians statewide, with over 1,100 employees when including its Boardman facility  . That workforce supports families, fills grocery carts, and circulates dollars in small towns across the Beaver State.

Tourism-wise? The Tillamook Creamery visitor center draws over 1 million visitors annually, generating $300 million in county spending in 2023 alone  . Imagine the ripple effect: gas stations, cafes, gift shops all thriving off that cheese glow. Now tack on the prestige of “Best Cheddar in the World,” and you’ve got international flavor tourists salivating for a cheesemonger’s selfie with their prized wheel.

Tillamook didn’t stop at cheese awards. In February 2025, they celebrated National Cheddar Day by giving away 1,909 pounds of cheese—$6 coupons for the first 15,000 entrants and a prize “boatload” haul  . Community love and free cheese: brilliantly cheesy marketing.

Financially, the prestige of that award expands export opportunities, raises margins, and reinforces brand pricing power. Retailers feel confident stocking—for good reason—so every block carries Oregon’s reputation (and premium price tag). That means more tax revenues, more farm partnerships—with dairy farmers seeing growth, not stagnation  .

On the innovation front, Tillamook keeps upping the ante: their recently launched Smoked Medium Cheddar and Spicy Colby Jack bring bold flavors and broader shelf appeal  . Fancier cheeses, fancier margins—straight into Oregon’s economic column. Demand sparks new jobs, more production, and more dairy partnerships across the Cascade.

We can’t ignore Oregon’s identity, too. It’s not just cows and creameries—it’s cultural capital. Winning awards on the world stage tells the world: Oregon delivers excellence, integrity, and flavor that rivals any global cheese hub . That kind of reputation attracts tourism, ag investment, and foodie influencers who want to be seen here.

So yes, when you savor that slice of Tillamook cheddar, you’re tasting more than buttery sharpness—you’re sampling Oregon’s economic ecosystem. Jobs, tourism dollars, export growth, and ag innovation: one world-class cheese at a time. And isn’t that—ahem—pretty grate?