MONROE — The Maple Leaf Cheese Cooperative filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Dec. 9 to restructure its debts and to have time to find a new partner as a result of its long-term partner, Maple Leaf Cheesemakers, Inc., ending its cheesemaking contract with the Cooperative. The plant was scheduled to close by Dec. 11, with the hope to be reopened in the next 3-4 months.

Jeremy Mayer, President of the cooperative, said that filing for Chapter 11 was necessary to keep the 110-year-old cooperative in business while it seeks a new partner. Maple Leaf Cheesemakers, Inc, terminated its cheesemaking contract and plans on ending their involvement in operations this month, Mayer said.

“The Cooperative is hopeful that the bankruptcy court will authorize payments owed to patrons for all milk delivered prior to yesterday’s petition date,” the cooperative wrote in a press release Dec. 10.

“Regretfully, I know that the cooperative farmer-owners will have to make further sacrifices in the short run, but that Chapter 11 is the only way to keep the Cooperative alive and rebuild for a stronger future,” Mayer said. “Our cooperative family has had to make sacrifices before and each time, the Cooperative and its farmer-owners have come out stronger than before.” 

The cooperative, originally formed in 1910 and owns a cheese plant in Monroe, is made up of 25 farms in Green County, and Mayer said that each is looking for temporary markets for their milk. In the press release, the cooperative stated that finding a new home for milk has taken a lot of time and effort, but that the co-op will now turn its full attention to finding a new partner and relaunching its cheese business.

“The Maple Leaf Cheese Cooperative Board of Directors and patrons are thankful for the support the co-op is getting from the Green County community and the Wisconsin dairy industry, and that is helping the cooperative stay strong and optimistic about the future,” Mayer said.

In late November, a GoFundMe was launched to help the cooperative pay bills for the cheese plant, including heating, insurance, taxes and legal fees. After about two weeks, the fundraiser, which was shared across social media, like Facebook, had raised just $2,895 of its estimated goal of $150,000.