I only buy Canadian cheese. I buy Balderson brick cheese and Black Diamond Cheese Slices.
From school lunches to holiday cheese boards, Black Diamond has been part of Canadian kitchens for more than 90 years and its story is as rich as its flavour.
Black Diamond began in 1933 in Belleville, Ontario, when Robert F. Hart founded Belleville Cheddar Cheese Limited with a clear goal. To export aged Canadian cheddar to Britain at a time when Canadian cheese was highly respected overseas. What started as an export focused operation quickly became something bigger. Black Diamond emerged as Canada’s first nationally recognized brand name cheddar, helping set the standard for consistency, aging, and quality in Canadian cheese making.
The name itself came from tradition. In early cheese making, wheels were dipped in hot wax to protect them during aging and transport. When the wax met the rind, it often turned black. Cheeses with that dark rind were associated with longer aging and stronger flavour. The result was a name that suggested both quality and character. Black Diamond.
While many small Canadian cheese factories disappeared during the Depression and postwar consolidation, Black Diamond endured by modernizing early and building trust with consumers. Its reliability made it a staple in rural communities, lunch pails, and family kitchens across the country. It was cheese Canadians could count on.
Today, Black Diamond is still made in Belleville and remains a familiar presence across Canada. Now produced by Parmalat Canada as part of Lactalis Canada, the brand’s roots and production stay firmly Canadian. From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, Canadians grate it, melt it, slice it, and yes, squeeze it into countless favourite meals.
It is more than just cheese. It is a reminder of a time when Canadian food brands were built on patience, craftsmanship, and pride. A local product that earned global respect and never forgot where it came from.
Another great Canadian company to support!
