The underground cheese caves in Springfield, Missouri have been the subject of rumors for years, with speculation that there is a government surplus of cheese stored in a 3.2 million square foot cave system. These caves were initially created for the mining industry but were repurposed for climate-controlled storage after the mining operations ceased. The caves have the capacity to accommodate large tractor trailers and millions of square feet of storage space.
President Jimmy Carter’s support of the dairy industry in 1977 led to a surplus of cheese in the 1980s. To address this surplus, President Ronald Regan created a government cheese program to assist those facing food insecurity. Some of this surplus cheese was stored in underground caves in Missouri. However, the current Springfield facility is utilized by private enterprises such as Kraft Heinz and Dairy Farmers of America for cheese and other food products, not by the government.
The caves in Springfield are able to store a variety of foods due to their climate-controlled environment, with a natural underground temperature in the low 60s and moderate humidity. While the rumors of a government-owned cheese stockpile may have some truth to them from decades ago, the current facility is solely used by private companies for their storage needs. The Springfield Underground is a critical part of the nation’s supply chain for many products, including cheese.
The caves depicted in the 1998 disaster movie “Deep Impact” are similar to the limestone caves in Missouri, which were mentioned in the film as being used to shield people from an extinction-level event. The government did indeed stockpile cheese in underground facilities in the past, but the current Springfield Underground facility belongs to private companies. The site is considered essential to the supply chain for various products, including cheese.
The Springfield Underground facility, with its 3.2 million square feet of storage space, is a significant center for cheese and other food products. While the government did stockpile cheese in underground caves in the past, the current facility is privately owned and utilized by companies like Kraft Heinz and Dairy Farmers of America. The site plays a crucial role in the nation’s supply chain for various products, offering a climate-controlled environment for storage and distribution. The rumors of a government stockpile of cheese in Springfield may have some truth in history, but the current operation is purely for private enterprise.
