Here's Wiki's definition:
"Government cheese is processed cheese that was provided to welfare and food stamp recipients in the United States from the 1960s through to the early 1990s. (The style of cheese predated the era, having been used in military kitchens since the Second World War and in schools since as early as the 1960s.)"
I think what I remember at the church picnics was the cheese that was distributed during and right after WWII, but then later I do remember the school cheese.
Seems like Aunt Bett got some of the early cheese because she was a widow with no adult children to help her. Not sure about that but a lot of old folks had it.
I remember too that it was unsliced and in big chunks.
I don't know how it was distributed, I guess through welfare offices or wherever food stamps were given. I might be wrong but I do remember something like that prior to 1960, because by then I was in college and wouldn't have been home very much. That's why I think it was earlier distributed more widely than just in military kitchens.
I don't really know, Marylyn. I hadn't thought about it since I retired. Guess I ate my last bite of it at school. It was excellent, mildly cheddar-ish.
