WAITSFIELD – Area cheesemakers Jasper Hill Farm and Cabot Creamery Cooperative took home 13 ribbons at the American Cheese Society‘s (ACS’s) National Judging and Competition event this year.
Jasper Hill’s Alpha Tolman was one of the top finishers in the American Made/International Style category and a top 10 finisher overall.
Winners were announced July 11 at the ACS annual conference, held in Buffalo, N.Y.
“To be recognized from over 1,500 entries for their commitment to producing great cheese is an incredible honor for Vermont’s cheesemakers,” said Marty Mundy, executive director for the Vermont Cheese Council. “Winning awards like these comes with a ton of gratitude for our community and pride for our hardworking cheese producers and dairy farmers across the state.”
Judges assess cheese on technical and aesthetic qualities in order to showcase talent, leadership, and excellence in cheesemaking.
Jasper Hill Farm and Cabot Creamery Cooperative winning cheeses and the teams responsible were:
First place winners included Alpha Tolman, Jasper Hill Farm, Original Cheesemaker: Jasper Hill Creamery Team (top 10 finisher overall); Cabot Salted Butter, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Original Cheesemaker: Team West Springfield; Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Original Cheesemaker: Team Cabot; Cabot White Oak Cheddar, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Original Cheesemaker: Team Cabot.
Other first place winners included Cabot Monterey Jack, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Original Cheesemaker: Team Cabot; Calderwood, Jasper Hill Farm, Original Cheesemaker: Anne Saxelby & Mateo Kehler; Second Place Winners; Cabot Alpine Cheddar, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Original Cheesemaker: Team Cabot; Moses Sleeper, Jasper Hill Farm, Original Cheesemaker: Jasper Hill Creamery Team; Willoughby, Jasper Hill Farm, Original Cheesemaker: Jasper Hill Creamery Team.
Third place winners included Cabot Unsalted Butter, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Original Cheesemaker: Team West Springfield; Black Label Cabot Clothbound, Cellars at Jasper Hill, Original Cheesemaker: Cabot Cooperative Creamery; Vault 5, Cellars at Jasper Hill Farm, Original Cheesemaker: Cabot Cooperative Creamery; Harbison Mini, Jasper Hill Farm, Original Cheesemaker: Jasper Hill Creamery Team; Whitney, Jasper Hill Farm, Original Cheesemaker: Jasper Hill Creamery Team.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
