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( Tomorrow was here years ago in the Quinte cheese business. It was ushered in by a trade name -- Black Diamond. Years ago the Bellev i 11 e 'company, with its up-to-date business outlook, fell heir to the aging Quinte cheese tradition, giving it a spruce, new look. Now, as a newcomer to the International Brooke Bond food industry group, Black D i a mond keeps a century - old local industry contemporary with the sophisticated perspective of modern business. For Belleville it means continued enjoyment of an international reputation for enjoyable cheddar cheese. The surrounding Quinte countryside is still one of Ontario's largest producers of the renowned foodstuff - - a staple that became a delicacy. Black Diamond still draws its supplies for international marketing from this source -- where international ribbons for quality are nothing new. The eheesemaking c r a f t came with the eafly pioneers. But it was in the immediate pre - Confederation that it first developed into an industry of importance to the public economy. By 1866 the fledgling industry was spreading through the Quinte district, with the first factories going up around Belleville. Because of a small home population exports -- particularly to Britain -- became paramount. Distinguished by unique flavor and high quality, Canadian cheddar won consumer cheers in Britain. The boom was on and more and more factories were opened around the Quinte district to meet a flourishing demand. So much so, the industry reached its peak with 2,300 plants producing nothing but cheese. The early - 20th century saw the golden years of the industry. Still the British markc* was a prime source when Robert F. Hart -- a native Englishman who came to Canada via the U.S. cheese business launched Belleville Cheddar Cheese Ltd. in 1933. Hart was testing a new marketing idea. To that time, most c h e e s e exported was shipped unaged, the British importer usually completing the maturing process. Hart argued that a standard home-matured product could find a ready export market. Cheese was shipped i n t o Belleville from the countryside matured on Hart's premises. The cheese was unwaxed and during the aging process, a surface mould formed on the rind. When waxed later for export it was found the moulded rind turned black. Hart had ready-made inspiration for a trade name -- a diamond among cheese for flavor, its packaging black in appearance. Early in the company's career Hart had Ms attention dr-awn to the domestic market. Cheese was exported in 90pound wheels. Domestic demand ftrom connoiseurs and catering establishments necessitated a new departure. Hart began ordering 10-pound wheels from the nearby Foxboirp Cheese Factory. Today, Black Diamond cheese circles are mailed by tens o fthousands, around the world. The Fcxboro producer still manufactures for the company. The past-World War n era was a difficult time for cheese exporters and Black Diamond turned to developing Caoadian markets. A series of company purchases ensued in following years, climaxed by amalgamation with an historic firm -- W. S. Cook and Son, of Belleville, in the cheese busdneas s i n c e 1874. In 1959 also came a complete reversal of a traditional role. Black Diamond was named North American representative-for Milk Marketing Board of England and Wales, marketing English varieties cheese. The company h a d moved from exporting to importing. Meantime, up-to-date techniques in marketing, packaging, maintenance of standards kept Black Diamond a leader in the Canadian cheese business. It continued to widen its range of products -- marketing the traditional cheddar along with wine-cured, beer- aged, hickory smoked cheese among varieties under its la-" bel. Marketing process cheese was the first to introduce a consumer table jar for its gourmet Cheez Plees. In 1961 it took first prize from the Packing Association of Canada for consumer-packing design. In 1965 Black Diamond International sold its European business to a London corporation Trengrouse and Nathan strengthen world organization of Black Diamond. The final change c a m e in 1968 when the company joined the Brooke Bond group, big international producer of food products -- Red Rose and Blue Ribbon teas and coffees, Oxo meat extracts are among its popularly-known labels. Some time soon, B r o o k e Bond and Black Diamond also will be neighbors. The cheese company headquarters '"s just across tine Macdooald-Cartier Freeway from the new Brooke Bond factory, one of Beleville's newest industrial acquisitions. However, Blgjck Diamond stM plays a familiar and traditional role in the Quinte economy. Most of its cheese is still obtained from local factories which also maintained a proud tradition of theijr own. Black Diaimond itself points to such suppliers as the Selb$ Cheese Factory several times^winner of the BriUsJx · Empire Dairy Show, and 1965 grand champion of the Olympic Dairy Show, in Britain. Local suppliers have had the highest cheese grade averages in Central Ontario. In the Belleville area, cheese - of high quality -- still is a most important product.