When it comes to cheese most people probably think cheddar or mozzarella.

In fact, those two cheeses are the most consumed in Wisconsin, said Rita Houser, regional program manager of the Wisconsin Dairy Council.

Cheddar used to be No. 1, she said, but mozzarella has taken its place because of its use in pizza.

“We love pizza, and that is the driving force behind (mozzarella’s popularity),” Houser said.

Many people probably don’t realize, however, that Wisconsin offers 650 types, styles and varieties of cheese, she said.

On styles, types and varieties .

A style of cheese can depend on the time it has been aged. There is fresh cheese (cottage cheese), as well as aguda cheese, which is aged six to nine months. There are also cheddars aged up to six or seven years. Other types of cheese include veined cheese and semi-soft cheese, as well as many specialty cheeses.

– Houser

On specialty cheeses .

Cheese makers take a cheese such as Monterey Jack and add something such as pepper, to get Pepper Jack – which has been around for a while. Others could include Salsa Jack, Cranberry jack or Mushroom and Leek jack. Just taking the type of cheese and adding something different to it makes it a specialty. They’re trying to find a variety of cheese that nobody else has made yet.

– Houser

On the types of cheese .

Wisconsin makes more varieties than any other state.

– Patrick Geoghegan of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board

Wisconsin can be proud of its cheese production, because it strives to be No. 1 in quality throughout the United States and the world.

– Houser

On trying new cheeses .

A really good cheese to try that people may not have heard of is Brie. Wisconsin Havarti, which was developed at the center for dairy research at UW-Madison is also an interesting cheese to try. Fresh mozzarella is very different as well.

– Houser

On making cheese .

Ten pounds of milk makes one pound of cheese.

– Geoghegan

On the pounds of cheese .

Wisconsin produced 24.7 billion pounds of cheese in 2006.

– Geoghegan

On selling cheese .

Every ounce of cheese produced in Wisconsin is sold.

– Geoghegan

On cheese and the economy .

In Wisconsin, the dairy industry generates $20.6 billion. To compare, the citrus industry in Florida generates $9.5 billion and the potato industry in Idaho generates $2.5 billion. Wisconsin leads the nation in the specialty cheeses, holding 36 percent of the market.

– Geoghegan