In Wisconsin, cheese is more than what’s on the menu, it’s part of the culture, from family farms to the iconic Cheesehead spirit. As the United States’ leading cheese producer, Wisconsin crafts over 600 varieties and styles of cheese. Behind that pride is a dairy industry that is deeply local, nearly 99% family-owned, and generates $52.8 billion in economic impact. Recognized worldwide, this isn’t just a tradition, it’s what Wisconsin does best.1

Getting all that goodness to market takes more than great recipes. It takes timing, care and a connected supply chain.

A supply chain built to protect product quality

From producers and manufacturers to warehouse teams, railroaders, distributors, retailers and customers, each plays a role in getting products to market. For temperature-sensitive products like cheese and butter, maintaining quality is just as important as moving efficiently. The right transportation plan helps protect product integrity from origin to destination, so Wisconsin dairy can arrive ready for shelves, kitchens and tables across North America.

That is where CN’s network and expertise come in.

Connecting Cedar Grove Warehouse to the CN network

Cedar Grove Warehouse works with CN to connect Wisconsin cheese and butter to destinations across North America. Based in Wisconsin, they provide warehousing, logistics, temperature-controlled storage and railcar cross-docking services for the dairy industry, helping products move from storage to the next stage of the supply chain.

In this case, their refrigerated railcars are an important part of the process. Cedar Grove Warehouse brings the specialized dairy handling and storage know-how, while CN helps those products travel safely, efficiently and with the consistency temperature-sensitive freight requires.

Temperature-controlled expertise for the distance

Moving perishable freight is not one-size-fits-all. It takes people who understand the commodity, the equipment, the timing and the importance of consistency.

CN has deep expertise in temperature-controlled freight, including solutions such as CargoCool refrigerated containers, insulated equipment, monitoring capabilities and dedicated support for customers shipping food, beverages and other temperature-sensitive products. Whether freight is travelling regionally or across borders, CN teams help build supply chains designed to protect quality, maintain visibility and support reliable delivery.

Here is how we make it happen:

Running a fleet of CargoCool reefers across CN’s Canadian network

Monitoring temperature and humidity in real time to protect product integrity

Coordinating precise hand-offs between terminals, warehouses, and retailers

Powering a nationwide
door-to-door supply chain

A small taste of a bigger story rooted in Wisconsin

CN fuels Wisconsin’s economy well beyond cheese. With 1,185 employees and 988 route miles statewide, CN delivers the reliable transportation network that manufacturers, farmers, industrial producers, and consumers depend on. From Green Bay and Appleton to Wausau, Chippewa Falls, Superior, New Richmond, Arcadia, Stevens Point, and Fond du Lac, CN connects supply chains, expands market access, and powers Wisconsin’s diverse and growing economy.

This Dairy Month and every month, CN is proud to support customers like Cedar Grove Warehouse, connect Wisconsin industries to broader markets and help deliver the products people count on with safety, reliability and care.

1 Source: https://www.wisconsindairy.org/caring-for-wisconsin