Stainless hoops, timber followers

[Sch2804]

A local cheese maker has asked me to manufacture 100 4" timber discs to fit their stainless hoops.  I believe these are called followers.  The one I've been given to copy is made from American cherry.  Is there a reason for this?  Are they always made of cherry/fruitwood?  Would beech or maple be appropriate? Is there a reason all commercially available ones appear to be made of plastic?  Any information greatly appreciated. Cheers

[Al Lewis]

Hardwood would be best, as in fruitwoods.  Soft woods would absorb the whey and soon be useless.

[awakephd]

As I understand it, the wood that is most neutral with respect to food is beech. My next choice would be a hard maple. I'd be worried that cherry would impart some flavor, along with others such as oak or walnut. And as Al says, stay away from soft woods.

I have a couple of followers made out of laminated bamboo, which seems to be pretty neutral with respect to flavor -- but even then I don't put these right next to the cheese; I use these wood followers only to back up a plastic follower.

[Sch2804]

Thanks all.
I'll pass your thoughts on to my client. 
All the best