MSU Extension selling limited-time holiday gift box of Dairy Store cheese

Becky McKendry<mckendrb@msu.edu>, MSU Extension -

This season, give the gift any Spartan would love.

A gift box containing four kinds of cheese: cheddar, colby jack, smoked cheddar, and beer cheddar.

Author's edit: As of Wednesday, December 23, all cheese boxes have been sold and are no longer available for purchase. Customers with existing orders can pick up their product from the MSU Extension Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC) at 3361 Hulett Road in Okemos, according to the remaining dates and times on the pickup schedule below.


When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal operations this year, tens of thousands of pounds of MSU Dairy Store cheese was transferred to MSU Extension. In true Spartan fashion, the MSU Product Center got creative in order to turn this into an opportunity for the perfect holiday gift box.

For a limited time, Spartan gift boxes containing two pounds of delicious MSU Dairy Store cheese are for sale online. Each preassembled gift box will contain the Dairy Store’s classic cheddar, along with a mix of other varieties, such as caerphilly, smoked cheddar, colby jack and beaumont, an MSU specialty.

“This is a really excellent opportunity to celebrate the MSU community,” said Mollie Woods, director of the MSU Product Center, which helps Michigan entrepreneurs and businesses develop and launch new product and service ideas. “These specially selected cheeses from the Dairy Store will remind Spartans everywhere of MSU.”

The boxes are $24.99 each, and orders can be placed for delivery or contactless pickup. There is an extra charge for delivery orders, which are shipped via USPS Priority Mail. To place an order for delivery, visit the MSU Dairy Store website.

Pickup orders will be available at two locations: the MSU Extension Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC) at 3361 Hulett Road in Okemos, and Tollgate Farm and Education Center, located at 28115 Meadowbrook Road in Novi. There is no added fee for pickup orders. Customers who place an online pickup order can bring a mobile or printed copy of their receipt to claim their boxes.

To place an order for pick up at the FPIC in Okemos, visit the MSU Dairy Store’s Shopify website. To place an order for pickup at Tollgate in Novi, visit the Tollgate Cashnet website.

The pickup schedule is as follows:

Okemos location (MSU Extension Food Processing and Innovation Center):

  • Friday, December 18: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Monday, December 21: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, December 22: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, December 23: 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Monday, December 28: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, December 29: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday, December 30: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Novi location (Tollgate Farm and Education Center):

  • Thursday, December 17: 5 to 10 p.m. *High traffic volumes expected due to Holiday Lights at the Farm. Only event attendees should select this option.
  • Friday, December 18: 5 to 10 p.m. *High traffic volumes expected due to Holiday Lights at the Farm. Only event attendees should select this option.
  • Saturday, December 19: 5 to 10 p.m. *High traffic volumes expected due to Holiday Lights at the Farm. Only event attendees should select this option.
  • Monday, December 21: 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Tuesday, December 22: 3 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, December 23: 3 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Monday, December 28: 3 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, December 29: 3 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, December 30: 3 to 6:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact Mollie Woods, MSU Extension Product Center director, at willi751@msu.edu. 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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