Havarti cheese

Havarti is a semi-soft Danish cow's milk cheese that was originally created in the mid-19th century. It is named after Havarthigaard, the farm where its creator, Hanne Nielsen, refined the cheesemaking process. While the cheese has deep Danish roots, it has become a global staple with significant production outside its country of origin.

In October 2019, the European Union granted Havarti 'Protected Geographical Indication' (PGI) status, meaning that within the EU, only cheese produced in Denmark from Danish milk can be sold under the name 'Havarti'. However, this designation is a subject of international trade debate, and 'Havarti' is produced extensively in the United States (particularly Wisconsin), Canada, and Australia, where it is often considered a generic cheese variety.

Major global dairy companies, such as Arla Foods—a cooperative owned by thousands of farmers across several European nations—are the primary drivers of the brand's international presence. Arla operates large-scale manufacturing facilities both in Denmark for the European market and in the U.S. for North American consumers.