SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & MODESTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Californias cows milk cheesemakers were honored with 15 awards at the 2009 World Cheese Awards, a prestigious international cheesemaking competition hosted October 1-3 in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
The annual competition, hosted by the Guild of Fine Foods, boasted more than 2,000 entries from 34 different countries, including Mexico, South Africa, Australia and Japan. The submissions were evaluated by a panel of judges drawn from 24 nations across the globe. California cheesemakers clearly demonstrated the quality and heritage of California dairy: improving upon last years remarkable achievement of 10 awards, seven California cheesemakers were awarded two gold, three silver, and 10 bronze awards at this years competition.
California winners in the 2009 World Cheese Awards competition included:
- Marin French Cheese Company, Petaluma, received 1st place (Gold) for Le Petit Djeuner in the Fresh/cream cheese cows milk plain category; 2nd place (Silver) for Le Petit Crme and 3rd place (Bronze) for Le Petit Camembert in the Mould ripened, soft or unpressed cows milk cheese plain category; 3rd place (Bronze) for Wildberry Quark in the Quark plain or with additives category; 3rd place (Bronze) for Traditional Brie in the Brie made from pasteurized milk category; and 3rd place (Bronze) for Marin French Blue in the Blue vein cheese any variety, uncut, natural rind category.
- Joseph Gallo Farms, Atwater, received 1st place (Gold) for Provolone Cheese in the Provolone mild category; and 3rd place (Bronze) for Mild Cheddar Cheese in the Mild Cheddar made after 05/31/09 category.
- Belfiore Cheese Co., Berkeley, received 2nd place (Silver) for Smoked Mozzarella in the Other smoked cheese – soft/semi soft category; and 3rd place (Bronze) for Burrata round mozzarella with cream filling in the All other new cheeses, open to any new cheese first marketed after 10/01/2008 category.
- Bellwether Farms, Petaluma, received 2nd place (Silver) for Carmody in the Semi-hard cheese not in any other class category.
- Fiscalini Cheese Company, Modesto, received 3rd place (Bronze) for Horsefeathers in the Processed cheese or Processed cheese spread with additives category; and 3rd place (Bronze) for Bandage Wrap Cheddar in the Extra Mature traditional Cheddar made after 05/31/08 category.
- Cantar Foods Inc., San Diego, received 3rd place (Bronze) for Fresh Mozzarella Ovolini size in the Mozzarella, fresh, cows milk in ball (large or small) category.
- Bravo Farms Handmade Cheese, Traver, received 3rd place (Bronze) for Tulare Cannonball in the Gouda – made after 09/01/2008 category.
Overall, 37 U.S. artisan cheesemakers were awarded a record 79 medals at this years World Cheese Awards. This was the best showing for U.S. cheesemakers in the history of the World Cheese Awards competition.
Source: Guild of Fine Foods