HR1054 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1054 LRB098 21051 GRL 58782 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Village of Stockton and the reunion of the Kraft family as they celebrate to 100th anniversary of J.L. Kraft coming to Stockton to start a cheese manufacturing plant that grew into an international company now known as Kraft Foods; and

WHEREAS, This history of this cheese plant started when J. L. Kraft, seeking a quality cheese product in June of 1914, began production under the management of his brother, Norman Kraft; dairy farmers in the area were encouraged to increase milk production all year round and sell that milk to Kraft; their goal was to improve the cheese-making process and produce a better product; and

WHEREAS, The Village of Stockton was chosen because of accessibility to the railroads to transport the cheese to the cities and the large number of dairy farmers in the area, producing a plentiful milk supply; and

WHEREAS, During World War I, the Stockton plant was used for research and continued development of better cheeses and packaging; this made it possible to send cheese to our troops and to war-torn countries after the war; and

WHEREAS, Kraft realized that quality cheese required quality milk, which resulted in developing dairy farm sanitary facilities guidelines and herd health standards which are still part of the dairy industry today; and

WHEREAS, Macaroni and cheese, a food enjoyed for many centuries, was introduced by Kraft Foods in 1937; this boxed macaroni and cheese, which sold for 19 cents, became a staple for many households in the Depression-era; other products developed were Velveeta Cheese, Wright's French Dressing, and Milani's Mayonnaise; and

WHEREAS, In 1930, the Kraft-Phenix Cheese Corporation was acquired by National Dairy Products, but Stockton continued its research for new cheese varieties; with the start of World War II, cheese production grew and improved packaging provided quality food for American troops and starving people in Europe; and

WHEREAS, The Stockton plant still produces large amount of Swiss cheese, maintaining the high standards of quality established a hundred years ago by J. L. Kraft; and

WHEREAS, Honored at the Kraft reunion will be the Bill and Mary Borsdorf family, which continues in the footsteps of their Bill's grandfather, Nicholas, who was the first dairy farmer to sell milk to Kraft in Stockton in 1914; Bill and Mary's family dairy farm continues the 100-year history of supplying milk to the cheese plant in Stockton; and

WHEREAS, The series of events for the anniversary will include a parade and an open house to view the Kraft and dairy exhibits at the Stockton Heritage Museum; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Village of Stockton and the members of the J.L. Kraft family on the 100th anniversary of the beginnings of a small cheese plant to the giant corporation that exists today; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Village of Stockton, the Stockton Heritage Museum, the Kraft family, Stockton Cheese, and the Bill Borsdorf family.