| system | initial cost ($ + hrs) / unit | annualized cost ($ + hrs) / unit | sqft building | sqft land | revenue | market cost | benefits |
| ------------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------- | --------- | ------- | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Parmesan Production | $425k + 1500 hrs | $177k + 4460 hrs | 2000 | 0 | $780k | $1.2M | Premium cheese production, revenue generation, skill development |
#### Assumptions
- Production capacity: 24,000 lbs/year of aged Parmesan
- Milk usage: 240,000 gallons/year (10 gallons milk per 1 lb cheese)
- 18-24 month aging process
- Climate-controlled aging room
- Quality comparable to mid-tier Italian Parmesan
- Internal resource costs:
- Milk: $0 (community surplus)
- Power: $0.08/kWh
- HVAC: $2/sqft/year
- Maintenance: $3/sqft/year
#### Market Solutions $1.2M/year
Premium Parmesan retail:
- 24,000 lbs × $50/lb = $1.2M
#### Labor 4160 Hours/year
| Task | Hours/Year | Notes |
|------|------------|-------|
| Cheese Making | 2080 | 8 hrs/day, 5 days/week |
| Aging Room Management | 520 | Daily monitoring, turning |
| Quality Control | 520 | Weekly testing |
| Cleaning/Sanitation | 780 | Pre/post production |
| Equipment Maintenance | 260 | Regular service |
| Total labor | 4160 | ~2 people full-time |
#### Operating Costs $92k/year
| Component | External Cost ($) | Internal Cost ($) | Notes |
| --------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | --------------------- |
| Cultures/Rennet | $35,000 | 0 | Specialty ingredients |
| Packaging | $25,000 | 0 | Premium materials |
| Power | 0 | $12,000 | Climate control |
| HVAC | 0 | $4,000 | Temperature/humidity |
| Maintenance | 0 | $6,000 | Equipment upkeep |
| Testing/Certification | $10,000 | 0 | Quality assurance |
| Total Annual | $70,000 | $22,000 | |
#### Initial Costs $425k + 1500 hrs -> $85k + 300 hrs/year
| Component | Initial Cost ($ + hrs) | Lifespan (Years) | Annual Cost ($ + hrs) | Notes |
| ------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------- |
| Cheese Vats | $150k + 400 hrs | 5 | $30k + 80 hrs | 500-gallon capacity |
| Aging Room | $175k + 600 hrs | 5 | $35k + 120 hrs | Climate control system |
| Testing Lab | $50k + 200 hrs | 5 | $10k + 40 hrs | Quality control |
| Drainage/Sanitation | $50k + 300 hrs | 10 | $10k + 30 hrs | Food-grade systems |
| Total Initial | $425k + 1500 hrs | - | $85k + 300 hrs | |
#### Production Process
1. Milk Preparation
- Standardize fat content
- Pasteurize at low temperature
- Cool to 93°F
2. Curd Formation
- Add starter cultures
- Add rennet
- Cut curds
- Cook to 125°F
3. Molding & Initial Aging
- Press curds in molds
- Salt for 20 days
- Initial aging room (65°F)
4. Long-term Aging
- Move to aging room
- 18-24 months at 57°F
- 85% humidity
- Weekly turning
#### Quality Control Points
- Milk testing: bacteria, somatic cells
- Curd pH monitoring
- Salt concentration checks
- Aging room climate monitoring
- Regular taste testing
- Final grade assessment
#### System Outputs
| Output Type | Weekly Units | Annual Units | Internal Cost/Unit | Notes |
|-------------|--------------|--------------|-------------------|--------|
| Premium Parmesan | 460 lbs | 24,000 lbs | $3.83/lb | 18-24 month age |
#### Revenue $780k/year
| Market | Price/lb | Volume (lbs) | Revenue | Notes |
|--------|----------|--------------|---------|--------|
| Direct Retail | $45 | 8,000 | $360k | Local sales |
| Restaurant | $35 | 12,000 | $420k | Regional accounts |
| Community | $10 | 4,000 | $60k | Internal use |
#### Critical Success Factors
1. Temperature/Humidity Control
- Precise aging conditions
- Backup power systems
- Daily monitoring
2. Milk Quality
- Low bacteria counts
- Proper fat content
- Fresh processing
3. Expertise Development
- Initial expert training
- Process documentation
- Quality assessment skills
4. Market Development
- Restaurant relationships
- Premium positioning
- Local food networks