Congratulations to several of our clients who won some of the top honors at this year's North American Jersey Cheese Awards in Wisconsin Dells, WI:

Branched Oak Farm, Nebraska

Gold Medal Winner - Class 1, Fresh unripened cheese for Quark

Silver Medal Winner, Class 2, Mold ripened soft or unpressed cheese, plain for Prairie Bloom Camembert

http://www.branchedoakfarm.com/cheese.php

Chapel Hill Creamery Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Second Best of Show, for Calvander

Gold Medal Winner - Class 5, Hard cheese for Calvander

http://www.southerncheese.com

Homestead Creamery Jamesport, Missouri

Third Best of Show, for Country Classic

Gold Medal Winner - Class 6, Semi-hard cheese for Country Classic and Jersey Supreme

Bronze Medal Winner - Class 8, Smoked cheese for Smokehouse

Marcoot Jersey Creamery, Illinois

Silver Medal Winner - Class 1, Fresh unripened cheese for Fresh Mozzarella

Silver Medal Winner - Class 3, Soft or unpressed cheese, ripened, plain for Creamy Havarti

http://www.marcootjerseycreamery.com/

Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company, Vermont
(who has only been making cheese for 1 month!)

3-time Gold Medal Winner - Class 2, Mold ripened soft or unpressed cheese, plain for Lil Lillé, Lillé, and Norma Jean Jersey

Launched in 2008 by the World Jersey Cattle Bureau, the World Jersey Cheese Awards are the only breed-specific dairy products contest in the world. The World awards are held every other year on the Isle of Jersey, with regional awards competitions conducted on the off years.

The 2011 North American Jersey Cheese Awards drew 77 entries of cheese, butter, and yogurt from 24 producers in 16 different states. All entries were made from 100% Jersey milk.

Each entry was judged individually on texture, body, appearance, aroma, flavor, and balance. The judges then assigned a score out of 50 possible points and wrote comments for the cheesemaker. Entries receiving 46 to 50 points earned a Gold medal, 41-45 points earned a Silver, and 36-40 Bronze. After all entries were judged, the Gold medal winners were evaluated by all six judges to determine the top three.

Thank you to the producers who sent such high-quality products, the expert panel of judges who provided feedback, and the sponsors whose support made the contest possible.

The World Jersey Cheese Awards showcase the quality and diversity of cheeses made from 100% Jersey milk to reinforce in the mind of consumers that when it comes to quality, look for ’Jersey’ as a mark of the very best.