#NationalPepperJackCheeseDay

Americans eat roughly 42 pounds of cheese per person each year, and over 52% of consumers choose to add Pepper Jack cheese to their plates. People are craving something more than standard flavors, they want bold, flavorful, and something daring to entice the palate. National Pepper Jack Cheese Day is the ultimate reminder to step past the mild options and spice up your plate!

Mission Origins to Culinary Perfection

The story of Pepper Jack is deeply rooted in American culinary innovation. In the 1800s, Spanish missionaries in California crafted a mild, buttery cheese that businessman David Jack later commercialized as Monterey Jack. Artisanal cheesemakers eventually added jalapeños and habaneros to give that velvety base an unmistakable kick.

Father of Pepper Jack

Wisconsin native Richard "Whitie" Wold is often referred to as the "Father of Pepper Jack." He solved the decades-long manufacturing puzzle of evenly distributing real peppers in cheese curds and then forming large blocks without impacting curd structure and knit of the cheese. Wold learned to balance heat from sweet peppers, jalapeños, and occasionally habaneros or habanero extract, while creating a high-melt cheese that yields smooth spice in every bite.

For over a century, Pepper Jack remained a small-batch secret—until 2001, when Wisconsin cheesemaker Richard “Whitie” Wold perfected large-scale commercial production. Widely regarded as the "Father of Pepper Jack," Wold pioneered the process to manufacture and market the spicy staple nationally, forever transforming the U.S. cheese industry, supermarket dairy cases, and the family dinner table.

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PEPPER JACK CHEESE DAY

Host a grilled cheese tournament swapping standard American cheese for Pepper Jack paired with sourdough and green chiles.
Whip up a batch of warm Pepper Jack queso dip using fresh jalapeños, cilantro, and garlic for evening football games.
Build a "Spicy & Sweet" charcuterie board featuring Pepper Jack cubes alongside hot honey, dried mango, prosciutto, and spiced pecans.
Set up a tasting board featuring Pepper Jack alongside other spicy cheeses (like Jalapeño Cheddar, Habanero Jack, and Ghost Pepper Cheese) to see how people rate the heat levels.
Post your messiest, ooziest Pepper Jack creations on social media using the hashtag #NationalPepperJackCheeseDay.

History Behind National Pepper Jack Cheese Day

National Pepper Jack Cheese Day was submitted by Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) to celebrate 25 years of large-scale Pepper Jack production. The dairy-farmer-owned co-op produced its very first commercial block of Pepper Jack in September 2001 at its Jim Falls, Wisconsin, plant.

The National Day Calendar Registrar officially approved the delicious food holiday to be celebrated annually on September 21.

About the Founder

Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) is one of the largest cheese cooperatives based in the U.S. Headquartered in New Ulm, Minn., it is owned by dairy farm families from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

The co-op's cheese and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. The co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise in 2019, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled craftsmen to make great-tasting, award-winning products.