Guild Grant for ACS Competition Entries in 2015

The Maine Cheese Guild announces that we will offer to cover the cost of every Maine Cheese Guild member’s first ACS Competition entry for 2015. We know from past experience that the more Maine cheeses that are entered into the largest cheese competition in North America, the more Maine cheeses will win awards and illustrate the quality of cheese being made and sold in Maine.

In addition, the Maine Cheese Guild will organize a group shipment of ALL Guild entries to the ACS Competition and will subsidize up to $500 of the cost for that, splitting any additional costs among those who participate. Details on this will be sent to everyone who participates in the First Entry Reimbursement as the shipping date approaches in July.

Reimbursement for your first ACS Competition Entry is simple: enter at least one cheese in the ACS competition. Each entry is $60 and you must enter before May 9th (there is a one-week late entry period, but the Guild will reimburse for only the regular entry fee on your first entry); you must be an ACS member to participate, and you will need to be prepared to upload a picture/scan of your current local license certificate when you enter the competition on-line. When you receive your email receipt, forward that email with your mailing address to our treasurer, Mary Belding–

(littlefallsfarmcheeseATgmailDOTcom using the @ and . symbols where upper-case)

–and she will send you a check for your first entry fee.

Good Luck!

Maine Cheese Guild

Workshop: The Small-Scale Cheese Business April 5-6, 2015

The Maine Cheese Guild announces a two day workshop with Gianaclis Caldwell —

The Small-Scale Cheese Business
A Guide to Running a Successful Farmstead Creamery

–based on her book by the same name. It will be two day-long workshops and will take place on SUNDAY and MONDAY, April 5th and 6th.

The site is still TBD, but is likely to be in the Augusta area.

(Click here for the full workshop description)

The fee for this two-day workshop will be:
–$100 per Guild member
–$300 per non-member, with Guild members receiving preference if the class limit is reached.

To reserve your spot send your name, business name (if applicable), and an email address where you want the confirmation information sent with the FULL AMOUNT of the fee by check or money-order (payable to “Maine Cheese Guild”) to:

Maine Cheese Guild
c/o Mary Belding, Treasurer
250 Walker Mills Rd.
Harrison, ME 04040
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Award Winners

Big E 2014 Award Winners

Maine was well represented among the award winners at the 2014 Big E Cheese Competition:

  • Crooked Face Creamery won a Gold medal for her Herbed Ricotta Spread with Roasted Red Pepper; a Silver medal for Herbed Ricotta Spread with Garlic and Rosemary; and Bronze medals for Whole Milk Ricotta, and Herbed Ricotta spread with Lemon and Rosemary.
  • York Hill Farm won Gold medals for Chevre Roll with Dill & Garlic, Chevre Roll with Black Peppercorns and Garlic, and Fresh Chevre; and a Silver medal for Chevre Roll with Green Peppercorns and Nutmeg.
  • Flying Goat Farm won a Bronze medal for Grace.

Congratulations to all three cheese makers!