ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. — Indiana’s first underground cheese cave operates in St. Joseph County, where a family-run business ages thousands of pounds of cheese each year beneath the ground. J2K Capraio, based in Walkerton, produces and ages both goat and cow milk cheeses inside the naturally cooled cave. The steady underground temperature allows the cheese to age slowly and evenly without fans or walk-in coolers. Some cheeses remain in the cave for months, while others age for several years. The natural environment influences flavor and texture, giving each batch characteristics tied to local conditions. The family has sold cheese in the South Bend area for about 20 years, starting at the South Bend Farmers Market and now operating Oh Mamma’s on the Avenue, where customers can buy the cave-aged cheese in a range of sizes.
