Press Releases http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/pressreleases.html Tillamook Launches New Line of Light Yogurt http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/27_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/27_pressrelease.html Tillamook, a farmer-owned dairy co-op, announces the release of their light yogurt line naturally sweetened with Truvia® sweetener. To make the best tasting, highest quality light yogurt Tillamook took two years perfecting the recipe made with no artificial growth hormones*, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners and no high fructose corn syrup. The 10-flavor line is ready for national distribution and has been authorized by major grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest.

Tillamook is the first light yogurt on the market that is naturally sweetened with Truvia® sweetener and other natural sugar substitutes. Truvia® sweetener, born from the stevia plant, is the No.1 natural sugar substitute in the U.S market**. By incorporating this natural zero-calorie sweetener, Tillamook was able to create a light yogurt that would meet the expectations consumers have come to expect from Tillamook; dairy products that are the best tasting, most consistent and made in the most natural way possible.

“After 24 months of research and development we found the perfect combination of natural sweeteners, setting our brand apart from the competition” said Jay Allison, Tillamook vice president of sales and marketing. “We didn’t compromise and now our consumers don’t have to either.”

The 6-oz. yogurt cups contain only 110 calories per serving, 35 percent less than regular low fat yogurt and have a suggested retail price of $.85. The full line consists of Oregon Strawberry, Vanilla Bean, Marionberry, Raspberry, Peach, Mountain Huckleberry, Northwest Berry Patch, Pomegranate Blackberry, Lemon Squeeze, and Dark Cherry.

About Tillamook County Creamery Association
Established in 1909, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) prides themselves on their commitment to providing families with the most consistent, best tasting, highest quality dairy products made in the most natural way possible. The farmer-owned co-op is famously known for its award-winning, naturally aged cheddars and is quickly becoming one of the top dairy brands in the country. Tillamook offers a variety of cheese, ice cream, butter, sour cream, and yogurt products.

*The FDA has stated that no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST treated and non-rBST treated cows.

**Neilsen period ending 9/3/11.

Truvia ® and the Truvia ® Logo are licensed trademarks of The Truvia Company LLC.

]]> Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 TCCA Helps Fight Hunger During Great Food Drive http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/26_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/26_pressrelease.html For the sixth year in a row, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) will help fight hunger as the presenting sponsor of the KGW Great Food Drive during the month of March. A benefit for the Oregon Food Bank, the Great Food Drive is a hunger relief and awareness campaign to help raise food for those in need in Tillamook County and across the state of Oregon.

As part of TCCA’s participation in the Great Food Drive, the company will donate a portion of proceeds from any size or variety of Tillamook cheese sold throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington to the Oregon Food Bank during the month of March.

In an effort to encourage participation by the local community, this year Tillamook will also feature promotions throughout the month of March at the Tillamook Cheese Factory Visitor Center. There will be a different Great Food Drive special featured each week for anyone who donates two non-perishable food items or $2.00 cash:

March 4-10: Receive $1.00 off your order at the Tillamook ice cream counter
March 11-17: Receive a FREE coffee, pop or milk with any breakfast or lunch entrée purchase at the Tillamook Creamery Café (excludes juices)
March 18-24: Receive 10 percent off all Tillamook branded apparel and souvenirs
March 25-31: Buy one pound of fudge, get a half pound free

This year’s Great Food Drive goal is to raise 500,000 pounds of food to fill the shelves of regional food banks and hunger-relief agencies that help families in Tillamook County and throughout the state.

“As a food producer and century-old  member of the Oregon business community, we feel it is our responsibility to help make a difference in people’s lives who are fighting hunger every day in our hometown of Tillamook County and across the state,” said Harold Strunk, Tillamook president and CEO. “We are proud to support the KGW Great Food Drive for the sixth year in our ongoing fight against hunger. Working together as a community, hopefully we can begin to combat this serious issue.”

TCCA’s participation in the Great Food Drive is part of the company’s larger charitable giving objective surrounding food security. In addition to the more than $131,000 the company has contributed to the Oregon Food Bank in support of the Great Food Drive over the past five years, TCCA has also donated more than $125,000 worth of Tillamook cheese over the past six years to local schools for the lunch services program. TCCA also partners with the Regional Food Bank of Tillamook County to provide year-round support through monetary and product donations.

For more information about the Great Food Drive, visit www.KGWGreatFoodDrive.com.

About Tillamook County Creamery Association     
Established in 1909, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a cooperative of approximately 105 dairy farming families guided by century-old values of quality, cooperation, integrity, stewardship and responsiveness. Quickly becoming one of the top dairy brands in the country, Tillamook is most famously known for its award winning, naturally aged Tillamook cheddars and also offers a variety of other cheeses, ice cream, butter, sour cream and yogurt.

]]> Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0800 TCCA, Teamsters Local 58 Agree to Severance Package for Displaced Employees http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/25_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/25_pressrelease.html The realignment will allow TCCA to operate more efficiently, reduce the transportation costs associated with moving cheese between facilities before the final distribution to customers, and increase responsiveness to its growing customer base outside of the Northwest. Unfortunately, this decision means the reduction of the number of packaging positions at the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

TCCA presented a creative severance package, which was agreed to by Teamsters Local 58, and will be made available to the 47 affected employees.

“We are aware of the difficulties our employees will experience as a result of this change and have created a quality severance package that will allow our people to choose what best meets their personal needs,” said Harold Strunk, TCCA president and CEO. “We also are coordinating with local agencies to provide important resources to assist them during their transition.”

As a part of the transitional services agreement, TCCA will be coordinating various displacement services for the employees which are not required by the agreement. Those details were recently shared with members of the packaging department.

In addition to the severance packages, the Association is making available several employment resources. TCCA has arranged with WorkSource Oregon to provide training such as resume writing, computer skills and interview skills. On-site visits with pension and medical plan administrators are being scheduled for impacted employees to discuss their pension and health insurance options. Additionally, TCCA is partnering with the Tillamook Bay Community College to offer classes for employees who are considering a change in their career path.

“The severance package offerings and transition services were arrived at and mutually agreed upon in an efficient, structured and professional manner,” said Walter LaChapelle, Teamsters Local 58 business representative. “The designed structure of this transitional plan will help our affected members who experience displacement from this process.” John Silva, Teamsters Local 58 secretary-treasurer agreed, adding “Union negotiators believe the overall offering of the available severance to these employees and members of our Union is substantial under the circumstance.” The process, which was guided by the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, has been completed and TCCA’s affected employees have been notified.

TCCA’s cheesemaking operations are not impacted by this packaging and distribution change. All of the cheese currently made in Oregon will continue to be made in Oregon. Additionally, visitors will still be able to watch the action of cheesemaking and packaging as TCCA remains committed to providing its visitors at the Tillamook Cheese Factory with the experiences they expect and desire.

Tillamook, Ore., will always be the home of TCCA and Tillamook Cheese. The Association remains a committed member of the Tillamook community. The change in operations is an opportunity to invest in the future of TCCA to ensure its longevity, as well as the success and longevity of the farmer-owners and the Tillamook community.

Please feel free to Contact Us or email us at info@Tillamook.com for more information.

]]> Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Changes in Tillamook Packaging and Distribution http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/24_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/24_pressrelease.html That commitment has not changed. Fortunately, the Tillamook brand has grown not only in the Pacific Northwest but also nationally because of our continued dedication to providing the best dairy products to our fans.

However, as the Tillamook brand continues to grow, it becomes more challenging to efficiently service our customers located outside of the Northwest. As a result, we must look for ways to make the company strong to sustain Tillamook farmer-owner families. Over the past year, we analyzed the logistics and supply chain costs surrounding the transportation of our cheese. We determined that our current model was very inefficient due to the number of miles we move our cheese before it arrives to a customer and the high transportation costs associated with each mile. "Because our distribution network was in Tillamook, we would literally make cheese at our factory in Boardman, Ore., then ship the cheese back to the Tillamook factory to age, then ship the cheese to a facility in Mountain Home, Idaho, to be shredded and sliced, then ship the cheese back to the Tillamook factory to be warehoused and distributed to our customers, and then in some cases the cheese would be shipped back to Idaho to our customers there," says Harold Strunk, TCCA president and CEO. "So you can understand the inefficiencies this process was creating."

By adopting a strategy similar to other best-in-class manufacturing companies, TCCA will move some of its packaging operations to two co-packers to cut, wrap and distribute Tillamook cheese. The new co-packers have facilities that are more centrally located to our growing customer base. This move will improve operational efficiencies, decrease the time to market and the associated costs, making TCCA more sustainable as a farmer-owned co-operative. It is important to note that the Tillamook Cheese Factory will continue to make, cut, package and distribute Tillamook cheese, and Tillamook, Ore., will always be the home and headquarters of the Tillamook County Creamery Association.

Unfortunately, as a result of this decision, TCCA announced on Jan. 5 to its farmer-owners and employees a reduction of packaging positions at its Tillamook facility beginning in February. TCCA is estimating a reduction of 50 packaging operator positions. This does not necessarily mean that 50 individuals will be directly impacted. Through normal attrition and retirements, the number of people directly impacted may be less than 50. TCCA will work with the employees who will be displaced by the reduction, to offer them assistance during the transition, as well as working with Teamsters Local 58 that represents the affected employees. “Sending a portion of our cheese to be packaged in another facility was a hard decision to make, knowing the impact it would have on our employees, their families and the entire Tillamook community, but we must continue to pursue growth that will make our company strong to sustain the livelihood of Tillamook farmer-owner families”, stated Harold Strunk, TCCA president and CEO. Change like this is never easy and we appreciate your thoughts and comments. Please feel free to Contact Us or email us at info@Tillamook.com for more information.

]]> Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Tillamook Plants Achieve Level 2 SQF Certification http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/23_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/23_pressrelease.html “Tillamook’s commitment to producing the highest quality dairy products starts by ensuring that the products are safe,” stated Mark Wustenberg, TCCA’s vice president of quality and member services. “We recognize that consumers are more knowledgeable about the source of the food they eat, how that food is prepared and if it is safe for their family. Achieving SQF certification validates our food safety program.”

SQF certification is achieved when a company demonstrates exceptional quality control and food safety practices. A third-party audit is conducted by a qualified inspector to evaluate different aspects of a company’s food safety program, including: personnel practices, plant maintenance and cleanliness, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HAACP) plans, and food safety programs. It provides validation to many national and international retailers and food service providers that a company has food safety programs in place and that those programs are followed. SQF is a globally recognized certification as a food safety management system and is administered by the SQF Institute.

“Achieving SQF certification validates our food safety program and exemplifies our continued commitment to providing safe, high quality dairy products to the marketplace. This is an achievement of which our farmer-owners and employees can all be proud,” said Wustenberg.

TCCA’s Tillamook plant, which is also the site of the company’s headquarters, received its certification in October. The Boardman plant, known as Columbia River Processing, Inc., received Level 2 certification in August.

About Tillamook County Creamery Association     
Established in 1909, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a cooperative of 110 dairy farming families guided by century-old values of quality, cooperation, integrity, stewardship and responsiveness. Quickly becoming one of the top dairy brands in the country, Tillamook is most famously known for its award-winning, naturally aged Tillamook cheddars and also offers a variety of other cheeses, ice cream, butter, sour cream, and yogurt.

]]> Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Tillamook Colby Awarded 'America's Best' http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/22_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/22_pressrelease.html Adding to an already impressive line-up of awards this year, Tillamook® Colby brought home a first place for the Tillamook County Creamery Association at the 2011 American Cheese Society Judging & Competition (ACS), held Aug. 5 in Montréal, Quebec. In total, Tillamook cheeses brought home four awards. 

Earlier in the year, Tillamook’s Monterey Jack and Colby Jack were both judged Best of Class at the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest®, earning them each the title of America’s Best. With the addition of the ACS award for Colby, Tillamook has achieved the cheese version of a “triple crown” of wins for this trio of creamy, soft and mild cheeses, all on the heels of winning World’s Best Medium Cheddar at the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest®

"We are very excited to see Colby recognized as the best in its category,” stated Harold Strunk, president and CEO, "It makes perfect sense for our Colby to have won first place since it is part of the foundation that makes America’s Best Colby Jack. It’s been a great year for our cheeses being recognized for their quality and taste. It is a pretty outstanding accomplishment."

Like all Tillamook cheeses, all natural Tillamook Colby is made with the highest quality milk from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones. It is available in stores in a 2-lb. Baby Loaf. The award-winning Colby Jack, Monterey Jack and a variety of other Tillamook cheeses are also found in deli and cheese cases in grocery stores nationwide.

For more information on the American Cheese Society judging and competition, visit www.americancheesesociety.org.

About the American Cheese Society
The American Cheese Society was founded in 1983 to support the North American artisan and specialty cheese industry.  They provide educational resources and networking opportunities to the cheese community, while encouraging the highest standards of cheesemaking focused on safety and sustainability. There were 258 entrants and 1,676 different cheeses judged in the American Cheese Society’s 2011 Judging & Competition.

About Tillamook County Creamery Association     
Established in 1909, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a cooperative of 110 dairy farming families guided by century-old values of quality, cooperation, integrity, stewardship and responsiveness. Quickly becoming one of the top dairy brands in the country, Tillamook is most famously known for its award-winning, naturally aged Tillamook cheddars and also offers a variety of other cheeses, ice cream, butter, sour cream and yogurt.
 

]]> Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Tillamook Returns to the Grilled Cheese Invitational http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/21_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/21_pressrelease.html As April - otherwise known as National Grilled Cheese Month – approaches, Tillamook Cheese is pleased to announce, for the second year, their sponsorship of the 2nd 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational (GCI). The 102-year-old farmer-owned cooperative and best-selling natural cheese brand in the West is the ideal sponsor for an event that celebrates amateur and professional chefs and their love of grilled cheese.

“The Grilled Cheese Invitational is a unique event and a tremendous opportunity for us to share the Tillamook brand and our best-tasting cheeses with thousands of grilled cheese fans in Los Angeles and beyond,” says John Russell, Senior Director of Marketing for Tillamook Cheese. “Following an amazing experience at last year’s event, we are thrilled to be back in Los Angeles and participating in the Grilled Cheese Invitational for the second year in a row.”

This year, Tillamook Cheese is taking the love of cheese to a new level by giving one lucky cheese enthusiast the opportunity to experience the Grilled Cheese Invitational first hand. Open to everyone within the United States, Tillamook Cheese is inviting fans to share a video that illustrates how they make the perfect grilled cheese. Fans are encouraged to use the videos from the Tillamook Kitchen section of Tillamook.com as inspiration. The winner will receive a trip for two to Los Angeles to compete at the Grilled Cheese Invitational with complimentary airfare, hotel, and ground transportation. The video competition will run from April 1st – April 14th.

While attending the largest grilled cheese contest in the nation, event-goers can spend time in “Tillamook Cheese Country” and feast on complimentary grilled cheese samples, sample Tillamook’s award-winning cheeses, meet Loafy – a mascot resembling a baby loaf of Tillamook’s World’s Best Medium Cheddar Cheese - and take home coupons for Tillamook products, recipe cards and much more. Additionally, Tillamook will be hosting a live Twitter giveaway where one winner per hour will win a year’s supply of free cheese – follow @TillamookCheese for more details. Attendees will also have the chance to experience the Loaf Love Tour, Tillamook’s annual cross-country event designed to “share the Loaf Love” by bringing their best-tasting cheese to the people. New to the Loaf Love Tour in 2011 is the “Loafster,” a convertible VW bus refurbished to represent a Baby Loaf of Tillamook Cheese. The Loafster is accompanied by a pair of 1966 Standard VW Microbuses, also modified to represent Baby Loafs.

The Grilled Cheese Invitational, which started in 2003 as a bet between Founder Tim Walker and a group of his closest friends, has grown into a national movement dedicated to perfecting the art of grilled cheese. This year’s event has expanded in size to include more vendors, more samples, more entertainment and what is expected to be a combined total of over 30,000 grilled cheese sandwiches. The Grilled Cheese Invitational has also added a new grilling category, “Love, American Style” to the competition, specifically dedicated to the classic American grilled cheese. “The Grilled Cheese Invitational is the best example of everyday Americans overcoming adversity, physical endurance and burned butter to become Grilled Cheese Champions!” says Tim Walker, the GCI’s Founder and Chief Instigator. The 2nd 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational will be held at Los Angeles Center Studios in downtown Los Angeles on April 23th from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. For more information, please visit www.grilledcheeseinvitational.com.

About Tillamook County Creamery Association
Established in 1909, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a cooperative of 110 dairy farming families guided by century-old values of quality, cooperation, integrity, stewardship and responsiveness. Quickly becoming one of the top dairy brands in the country, Tillamook is most famously known for its award-winning, naturally aged Tillamook cheddars and also offers a variety of other cheeses, ice cream, butter, sour cream, and yogurt.

]]> Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700 TCCA Chooses Maxwell PR to Build National Visibility http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/8_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/8_pressrelease.html Tillamook County Creamery Association, makers of the No. 1 selling natural cheese brand in the West, has selected Maxwell PR as its public relations agency of record from a field of five local, regional and national PR firms.

Staffed by an experienced team that grew up on Tillamook cheese, Maxwell will work to build national awareness for the iconic Pacific Northwest brand, managing regional and national consumer media relations and blogger outreach. In addition, the agency will support corporate communications initiatives, including issues management and corporate social responsibility.

Respected for its work building national awareness for Kettle Brand® Potato Chips among other natural industry leaders, Maxwell was chosen for its ability to bridge natural and mainstream consumer messages, its national media relations experience, and track record of delivering outstanding results. Its sustainability expertise and consumer engagement integration were an added plus.

“Maxwell sees the same potential in the Tillamook brand as we do, with the experience, media connections and creativity to take our PR program to a new level,” said John Russell, TCCA senior director of marketing. “It took months to select a new PR firm because we wanted to get it right, and they’ve already hit the ground running.”

The PR firm selection comes on the heels of Tillamook being voted the world’s best medium cheddar cheese in the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest®. The newly energized PR initiative will join an enriched marketing program that includes the company’s popular Loaf Love sampling tour, with PR efforts led by LA-based Bread & Butter, and expanded advertising efforts.  Supporting all marketing initiatives is the in-house online marketing team, managing Tillamook social media and web properties.

About Tillamook County Creamery Association

The Tillamook County Creamery Association is a farmer-owned cooperative that has been making award-winning cheeses in Oregon since 1909. Tillamook only uses the highest quality milk from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones. In addition to making naturally aged cheddar, a variety of other cheeses, and ice cream, it markets butter, sour cream and yogurt. TCAA is most famously known for its internationally award-winning Tillamook® cheddar cheese.

About Maxwell PR

Founded in 1997, Maxwell PR is an independent public relations firm specializing in media relations, consumer engagement, social media and digital marketing for national consumer brands. Current clients also include Kettle Brand®, Mobia by Nautilus, Pacific Natural Foods, Peter Rabbit Organics, Yogi Tea and Whole Foods Market Portland. Its work in tourism and hospitality includes Travel Oregon, Willamette Valley Visitors Association, Tourism Walla Walla and the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce. Visit www.maxwellpr.com for more information.

]]> Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0700 Tillamook Expands Yogurt Line, Increases Distribution in Arizona, California, and Colorado http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/17_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/17_pressrelease.html Tillamook’s popular line of 6-oz. yogurts is expanding with three new flavors, all made with no artificial flavors, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners and no high fructose corn syrup, and like all of its products, Tillamook Lowfat Yogurt is made with the highest quality milk from cows not treated with artificial growth hormones.  Additionally, the company is launching Vanilla Bean and Naturally Plain yogurts in new 32-oz. cartons and expanding distribution of six of its popular 6-oz. flavors in the West.

The latest additions to the lowfat yogurt line include creamy Banana Vanilla, tart Pomegranate Blackberry and antioxidant-rich Blueberry Acai. These flavors join other inventive Tillamook flavors in the 6-oz. size, including Baked Apple Pie, Watermelon and Strawberry Lemonade, which have a suggested retail price of $0.89.  

Tillamook, known for its award-winning cheddar cheese, is meeting increased consumer demand for lowfat yogurt with expanded distribution in California and the Southwest.  Beginning in February, the six top-selling Tillamook Lowfat Yogurt 6-oz. flavors will hit Safeway and Vons stores in Arizona, California and Colorado. Available flavors include Oregon Strawberry, Raspberry, Vanilla Bean, Mountain Huckleberry, Marionberry, and French Vanilla Bean.

“Tillamook fans love our fresh and flavorful products and we want to support our consumers as they maintain their smart and healthy eating habits in 2011,” said Jay Allison, Tillamook vice president of sales and marketing.  “With a century of experience in the dairy business, we’re providing yogurt that’s both top quality and lowfat, and by expanding the line and distribution, fans can find more flavors in more places.”

In addition to the three new 6 oz. varieties, classic Tillamook Lowfat Yogurt flavors Vanilla Bean and Naturally Plain are now available in a new larger 32-oz. size for a suggested retail price of $2.49. 

About Tillamook County Creamery Association     
Established in 1909, the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a cooperative of 110 dairy farming families guided by century-old values of quality, cooperation, integrity, stewardship and responsiveness.  Quickly becoming one of the top dairy brands in the country, Tillamook is most famously known for its award-winning, naturally aged Tillamook cheddars and also offers a variety of other cheeses, ice cream, butter, sour cream and yogurt.

]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Best Medium Cheddar in the World http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/3_pressrelease.html http://www.tillamook.com/ourstory/mediaroom/3_pressrelease.html Cheesemakers from 20 different nations united in Madison, Wisc., from March 16-18 for the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest. Tillamook Cheese, traveling cross-country from Oregon, took home the gold medal for “Best Medium Cheddar in the World,” beating a whopping 59 other entries. 

Gold medal-winner Tillamook medium cheddar is aged naturally for 60 days, which develops its unique flavor and rich, creamy texture. After taking home the award with a near-perfect score of 99.6 out of 100, TCCA's president and CEO, Harold Strunk, explained the company’s dedication to quality: “Winning an award like this just affirms our conviction that Tillamook tastes better because it’s made better. We strive every day to produce the best tasting cheeses on the market. It is a team effort that starts with a commitment at the farm level to produce high-quality milk, and continues with a team of skilled cheesemakers and employees. Bringing home a world title is an accomplishment we can all be proud of.”

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) prides itself in providing quality, all-natural cheeses using milk from cows that have not been treated with artificial growth hormones. TCCA believes that the freshest milk yields the best cheese products; therefore, Tillamook cheese is produced 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All milk is tested before entering the plant and milk surpassing the strictest standards is directed toward cheesemaking as soon as it is received, helping to keep Tillamook as the No. 1 selling natural cheese brand in the Western United States.

The World Championship Cheese Contest has been held every even-numbered year since 1958 and saw an 18 percent increase in entries for the 2010 competition. With 2,313 cheeses and butters entered into the championship, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, the host of the event, enlisted an international panel of 30 experts from 12 nations to judge submissions. John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, announced that this was the first time in the contest’s history that “each continent has offered cheese to the contest. The art of cheesemaking is thriving in nations around the globe [and] no other competition captures the breadth and depth of international cheesemaking.”

For more information on the World Championship Cheese Contest and results from the 2010 competition, please visit the World Championship Cheese Contest.

]]> Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700