An impressive 25 Wisconsin cow cheese and dairy companies received honors at the 2023 American Cheese Society Judging and Competition in Des Moines.
Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin says this demonstrates the depth and breadth of Wisconsin dairy.
“It’s excellent to see Wisconsin dairy products shine on the ACS stage,” says DFW CEO Chad Vincent. “The awards are a testament to Wisconsin’s 180-year cheesemaking heritage and the innovation of our incredible cheesemakers.”
This year, Wisconsin makers earned more than one-fourth (28 percent) of all medals at ACS — that’s twice the awards won by the next closest competing state. In total, Wisconsin cow-dairy product artisans earned:
- 27 first-place awards,
- 28 second-place,
- 31 third-place
- And swept eight classes – earning the top three spots.
Pleasant Ridge Reserve of Uplands Cheese, America’s most-awarded cheese and proudly Wisconsin-made, has earned high honors as Third Best of Show at the 2023 ACS. This farmstead-crafted alpine-style cheese is made only from May through October. This is when the cows are eating fresh pasture imparting a sweetness born from the grass-fed milk.
Among the all-star roster of Proudly Wisconsin Cheese and Dairy companies are:
- Klondike Cheese Company of Monroe with 19 awards
- BelGioioso Cheese Inc. of Green Bay with nine awards
- Widmer’s Cheese Cellars of Theresa with eight awards
- Marieke Gouda of Thorp with seven awards
- Nasonville Dairy, Inc. of Marshfield with six awards
- Schuman Cheese of Turtle Lake with five awards
- Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery of Ellsworth with three awards
- Pine River Pre-Pack of Newton with three awards
- Uplands Cheese of Dodgeville with three awards
The 2023 ACS competition included 1,454 entries in 131 categories from 195 companies. Awards are given to cheeses and cultured dairy products that achieve technical excellence and exhibit the highest aesthetic qualities.
Leave a Reply