Faribault, MN: Jeffs’ Select Gouda from Caves of Faribault has been named a Finalist for Outstanding Cheese or Dairy Product in the 2013 sofi™ Awards from the Specialty Food Association.
A sofi Award is the top honor in the $86 billion specialty food industry. “sofi” stands for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation.
Jeffs’ Select was one of 109 Finalists selected by a national panel of specialty food professionals from 1,885 entries across 30 Awards categories from Outstanding Appetizer, Antipasto, Salsa and Dip to Outstanding Vinegar. Gold Winners will be announced by noted chef Marcus Samuelsson at a red-carpet ceremony July 1, 2013, at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City.
“We are honored to be named a Finalist in this prestigious contest,” notes Jeff Jirik, VP/GM of Natural Cheese for Swiss Valley Farms, the parent company of Caves of Faribault. Jeffs’ Select is the result of a collaborative effort between Jirik and long-time friend Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Jeff Wideman. Jeffs’ Select was born when Jeff Wideman’s Wisconsin-made cheese was sent to the Caves of Faribault for aging. This experiment resulted in a fullbodied Gouda with classic European nuttiness, smooth caramel notes and a creamy finish.
“Specialty food makers bring craft, care and joy to the foods they create. To be honored with a sofi Award nomination means the product truly stands out above the rest,” says Specialty Food Association President Ann Daw.
The sofi Awards are open to members of the Specialty Food Association, a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 for food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs with more than 3,000 members in the U.S. and abroad. For more information on the association and its Fancy Food Shows, go to www.specialtyfood.com. Learn more about the 2013 sofi Awards at specialtyfood.com/sofi.
Source: Swiss Valley Farms / Caves of Faribault