The Beehive Cheese Story

**The Beehive Cheese Story** **Guests: Bretton Walsh, CFO of Beehive Cheese** In this episode, we dive into the 20-year journey of Beehive Cheese, a family-run business out of Uinta, Utah rooted in passion, regional pride, and bold flavor innovation. Bretton takes us back to the very beginning, when they took a leap of faith into cheesemaking despite knowing little about the craft. We explore how academic mentorship, local partnerships, and unconventional thinking transformed a small operation into a national powerhouse: - **The Utah State University Spark:** How USU provided the essential food safety training and the base recipe for "Old Juniper," launching their commercial cheesemaking dream. - **Breaking the Rules with "Barely Buzzed":** The story behind rubbing cheddar with espresso and lavender—a move critics initially doubted until it won a blue ribbon at the American Cheese Society competition. - **Scaling with Integrity:** How Beehive navigated massive growth by creating "Project Honey" with Gossner Cheese in Logan, expanding production through handshake agreements while keeping flavor blending and aging strictly in-house. - **Values-First Business:** What it means to operate as a certified B Corp, prioritizing living wages, employee well-being, and a supportive family atmosphere where employees are treated like volunteers. Whether you're an artisan food lover, an entrepreneur curious about scaling without sacrificing quality, or a fan of great Utah stories, this episode offers a rich look at what happens when craftsmanship meets community values. ### Where to Find Beehive Cheese Look for Beehive Cheese varieties—including *Barely Buzzed*, *Red Butte*, and their signature chili and honey rubs—at regional and national retailers including Harmons, Associated Food Stores, and Costco.