There was absolutely no equipment when Nuestro Queso moved into a shuttered cheesemaking facility in Illinois six years ago. As the company continues to grow, it is still buying processing and packaging machines.

Frozen dessert makers can find inspiration for the next big thing by looking at what’s happening on restaurant menus across the United States.

The start-up U.S. dairy Nuestro Queso (‘our cheese’ in Spanish) meets the needs of Hispanic buyers on the East Coast and in the Midwest. The company also is building a following for its award-winning products among non-Latinos who appreciate the natural, fresh cheeses.

Dairy processors in Wisconsin, California and Vermont won the most ribbons but the Best of Show belongs to a blue cheese from Canada.

Domestic consumption of dairy products has been strong throughout 2015 and has helped to offset both increased milk production and declining U.S. exports, reports the National Milk Producers Federation.

Kroger's milk plant in Denver was one of 11 facilities nominated for our Plant of the Year award. More than 5,200 votes were cast on dairyfoods.com. Dairy Foods will present the award at the International Dairy Show in Chicago in September.

Grand Champion winners in the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest are Sartori, Dean Foods and The Comfy Cow.