When it was formed, WSCI set out to define for consumers and the industry alike what constitutes a "specialty cheese." The WSCI Board of Directors drafted and approved the following working definition:

"Specialty cheese is defined as a value-added cheese product that is of high quality and limited quantity. A cheese product can be said to be of high quality if it commands a premium price, is of exotic origin, has particular processing, design, limited supply, unusual application or use, or extraordinary packing or channel of sale. A specialty cheese type cannot have a nationwide annual volume of more than 40 million pounds."