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Tangential story, who remembers when the US government "accidentally created a cheese surplus so large it had to be stored in a ginormous cave." Great podcast

Tangential story, who remembers when the US government "accidentally created a cheese surplus so large it had to be stored in a ginormous cave." Great podcast on it from Planet Money: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/08/31/643486297/episode-862-big-government-cheese https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/08/31/643486297/epis...

cronix 8y ago
I remember in the late 70's, or early 80's (I was a kid so don't remember exactly), when my grandmother went on Social Security she got cheese and butter regularly from the government. It was actually quality stuff. I believe it was possibly due to what you're talking about.
- thieving_magpie 8y ago
  Yes, they call that "government cheese". I can't speak to the quality but there are people out there that still try to find things that are close to the government cheese quality they loved as kids.
  - linuxlizard 8y ago
    My family had government cheese growing up. Was very very soft, only lightly more dense than cream cheese. Was hard to cut because was too hard for a butter knife but too soft for a carving knife. Taste was like a blander Velveeta. Was not terribly tasty in cold sandwiches but it made THE BEST toasted cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches. Melted very well and tested best melted.
  - thatoneuser 8y ago
    It’s pretty great. The gem of govt food.
- zanny 8y ago
  I honestly don't get why all the first world countries of the world don't do more stuff like this. Agriculture is nothing close to a free market anywhere, but its all state involvement behind the scenes before you are presented with what looks like price competition and unbridled capitalism on store shelves. Except for milk, which stands out as being price regulated in the US. The largest exception I know of. If taxpayers are going to subsidize farmers to grow tons of excess corn, at least give everyone a cob or two a week instead of using it to dilute gas for no reason.
  - delecti 8y ago
    The kinds of corn fed to cows or used to make all manner of byproduct isn't the sweet corn variety that you'd normally serve alongside dinner. A couple cobs a week of the industrial varieties would be about as useful as getting a couple stalks of wheat; some people could meaningfully use it, but most wouldn't.

cronix 8y ago

I remember in the late 70's, or early 80's (I was a kid so don't remember exactly), when my grandmother went on Social Security she got cheese and butter regularly from the government. It was actually quality stuff. I believe it was possibly due to what you're talking about.

thieving_magpie 8y ago
Yes, they call that "government cheese". I can't speak to the quality but there are people out there that still try to find things that are close to the government cheese quality they loved as kids.
- linuxlizard 8y ago
  My family had government cheese growing up. Was very very soft, only lightly more dense than cream cheese. Was hard to cut because was too hard for a butter knife but too soft for a carving knife. Taste was like a blander Velveeta. Was not terribly tasty in cold sandwiches but it made THE BEST toasted cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches. Melted very well and tested best melted.
- thatoneuser 8y ago
  It’s pretty great. The gem of govt food.
zanny 8y ago
I honestly don't get why all the first world countries of the world don't do more stuff like this. Agriculture is nothing close to a free market anywhere, but its all state involvement behind the scenes before you are presented with what looks like price competition and unbridled capitalism on store shelves. Except for milk, which stands out as being price regulated in the US. The largest exception I know of. If taxpayers are going to subsidize farmers to grow tons of excess corn, at least give everyone a cob or two a week instead of using it to dilute gas for no reason.
- delecti 8y ago
  The kinds of corn fed to cows or used to make all manner of byproduct isn't the sweet corn variety that you'd normally serve alongside dinner. A couple cobs a week of the industrial varieties would be about as useful as getting a couple stalks of wheat; some people could meaningfully use it, but most wouldn't.