Accident, Maryland – FireFly Farms, producer of artisanal goat cheeses from Maryland’s Allegheny Plateau, proudly announces another top honor at the American Cheese Society’s (ACS) annual conference and judging held August 3rd through 6th in Montreal, Canada.
The 2011 Judging & Competition saw yet another record number of entries: 1,676 cheeses and cultured milk products from hundreds of ACS member-producers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. ACS President Christine Hyatt says, “The increase in this year’s entries mirrors the fantastic growth we’re seeing in the industry. As more people strive to make excellent cheese, they are turning to ACS for feedback about their products. The vision of our founders was not only to recognize the best cheeses in our industry, but also to offer feedback and guidance that will improve the quality of all cheeses produced in the Americas. This philosophy is still at the heart of our judging process today.”
FireFly’s aged goat cheese, MountainTop Bleu™, received the first place ribbon competing in the same class against other blue-veined cheeses made from goat’s milk. This ribbon is the 14th individual honor received by FireFly Farm’s MountainTop Bleu; these honors include selection by Saveur Magazine editors as one of their 50 favorite American cheeses.
“Wow!” said FireFly’s head cheese maker, Matt Cedro. “This is the 44th individual award for our FireFly Farms product line, and it’s MountainTop Bleu’s 14th award. It always feels great to have our work recognized on this national stage. We are very proud of all our cheeses – and to receive this type of recognition is wonderful.”
FireFly Farms President, Mike Koch, echoed Cedro’s excitement, “It all began nearly 10 years ago with a first-place ribbon for MountainTop Bleu at the ACS in 2002. As we move our creamery to Accident and prepare to expand our business, it’s greatly fulfilling that MountainTop Bleu has remained America’s best.”
FireFly Farms cheese is available at farmer’s markets, restaurants and many specialty retail stores. For information on where to purchase please contact the farm directly or visit http://www.fireflyfarms.com.
About the Cheese:
MountainTop Bleu is a softripened goat cheese. MountainTop Blue takes its shape from pyramid molds. Delicate blue veining run through the cheese and blue and white mold cover its surface. Aged for several weeks before it leaves us, it continues to ripen from the rind inward as it matures and its piquancy and creaminess increase. This muchawarded aged goat blue is definitely unique among American artisan goat cheeses. MountainTop Bleu has earned 14 individual awards of excellence since its creation in 2002.
About FireFly Farms:
FireFly Farms offers nationally & internationally awardwinning premium goat cheese that features the distinct regional flavors of Mountain Maryland’s Allegheny Plateau. Each cheese is artfully handcrafted and aged with precise detail; and, each offers distinguished flavor, exceptional texture, noteworthy composition, and unprecedented aesthetics. The cheese of FireFly Farms is produced using agriculturally sustainable, locallysourced fresh goat’s milk and timehonored, traditional methods of goat cheese making.
Source: FireFly Farms
