Dairy Sanitation Workshop June 1st

Posted on May 4, 2015September 14, 2015 by Monroe Cheese Studio

University of Maine Cooperative Extension has announced that they will present a Dairy Sanitation Workshop on Monday, June 1st at the University of Maine Orono campus in the Buchanan Alumni Hall, McIntire Room. The Maine Cheese Guild will co-sponsor the event, and Guild members will receive a discount on the workshop fee.

Guild members will get a discount on the registration fee — here is the link to register.

Registration opens at 8:15am and the sessions begin at 9am. This will be an all-day workshop with a break for lunch (included in the workshop fee). There will be a limit of 50 people they can accommodate so it is advised that you register as soon as possible to make sure there is room for you at the workshop.

This workshop will also include the latest update on the upcoming implementation of the federal Food Safety and Modernization Act which will completely overhaul food safety compliance across the country beginning October 2015. (The Guild has posted updates on this periodically but we expect things to change right up through the implementation.)

Guild Grant for ACS Competition Entries in 2015

Posted on April 14, 2015April 14, 2015 by Monroe Cheese Studio

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!

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

Posted on February 6, 2015April 14, 2015 by Monroe Cheese Studio

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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