MONTREAL – Dairy Farmers of Canada declared Quality Cheese Ricotta as the Grand Champion at the 8th edition of the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix last night. The Ricotta made history as the first fresh cheese and the first cheese from Ontario to be honoured as a Grand Champion. A jury of top Canadian food industry experts selected it from 19 impressive category winners. Sponsored and hosted every two years by Dairy Farmers of Canada, the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix celebrates the high quality, versatility and great taste of Canadian cheese made from 100% Canadian milk.
"The jury found this Ricotta refined, delicate and well-balanced," said Phil Bélanger, Canadian Cheese Grand Prix jury chairman. "It demonstrates that a fresh cheese can be as sophisticated as an aged one."
Quality Cheese Inc.'s Ricotta is lauded for its creamy texture and milky aroma. Quality Cheese manufactures, distributes and retails Italian speciality cheeses and boasts a team representing four generations of cheese making. Their products are so popular that fans flock to their Vaughan, Ontario location to buy the cheese fresh.
The Grand Champion and 19 category winners were selected from a record 225 cheese entries submitted by cheese makers from Prince Edward Island to British Columbia. The submissions were then narrowed down to 58 finalists by the jury in February.
"This year's winners offer positive proof that Canada is producing world-class cheeses," said Bélanger. "The time has come to celebrate the innovative excellence and proud tradition of Canadian cheese making."
Indeed, Canada's vibrant and unique cheese making craft has evolved to the point that new types of cheese are continually being added to the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix. This year, two new categories were introduced: "Gouda'' and "Fresh Cheese with Grilling Properties". Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Jury members tasted, touched and smelled each cheese, evaluating them for appearance, flavour, colour, texture and body, and salt content before determining the following winners.
GRAND CHAMPION: Ricotta, Quality Cheese Inc., ON
The 2013 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix Category Winners are:
1. Fresh Cheese Ricotta, Quality Cheese Inc., ON
2. Fresh Cheese with grilling properties Queso Fresco Cheese, Latin Foods Inc., AB
3. Soft Cheese with bloomy rind Le Noble, Fromagerie Domaine Féodal Inc., QC
4. Semi-soft Cheese Tre Stelle Feta Cheese, Arla Foods Inc., ON
5. Washed OR mixed rind Cheese (Soft, Semi-soft and Firm) Le Mamirolle, Fromagerie Éco-Délices, QC
6. Firm CheeseGunn's Hill Five Brothers, Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese, ON
7. Gouda* *This category was opened during the judging process due to the number of cheeses entered. This allowed the jury to evaluate the qualifying
cheeses according to criteria specific to this category. Grizzly Gouda, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., AB
8. Swiss-type Cheese Louis D'or 18 months, Fromagerie du Presbytère, QC
9. Pasta Filata (Not enough entries.)
10. Mozzarella (Ball, Brick or Cylinder) Tre Stelle Mozzarella Cheese, Arla Foods Inc., ON
11. Blue Cheese (various rinds, with or without veining) Bleu d'Élizabeth, Fromagerie du Presbytère, QC
12. Flavoured Cheese with added non-particulate flavourings Applewood Smoked Cheddar, Cows Creamery, PEI
13. Flavoured Cheese with added particulate solids and flavourings Raclette de Compton au poivre, Fromagerie La Station, QC
14. Mild Cheddar (aged 3 months) L'Ancêtre Organic Mild Cheddar, Fromagerie L'Ancêtre, QC
15. Medium Cheddar (aged 4 to 9 months) Medium Cheddar, Maple Dale Cheese, ON
16. Old Cheddar (aged from 9 months to a year) Cheddar 1 year, Fromagerie Perron, QC
17. Aged Cheddar (more than 1 year up to 3 years) Avonlea Clothbound Cheddar, Cows Creamery, PEI
18. Aged Cheddar (more than 3 years) 5 Year Aged Cheddar, The Black River Cheese Company Ltd., ON
19. Farmhouse Cheese Grizzly Gouda, Sylvan Star Cheese Ltd., AB
20. Organic Cheese Bleu d'Élizabeth, Fromagerie du Presbytère, QC
About the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix
Sponsored by Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix began in 1998 to promote achievement and innovation in cheese making and to increase appreciation for fine quality Canadian cheese. All eligible cheeses must be produced in Canada, bear the 100% Canadian Milk symbol on their packaging and be available at retail.
The cheeses are judged by a jury of experts from across Canada who are recognized in each of their respective domain in the food industry. Canada has a wide variety of world-class cheese makers from coast-to-coast. It is part of DFC's mission to promote the great cheeses produced in Canada. We have so many different types of cheeses – from Cheddar to soft cheese, Blue cheese and flavoured cheese! The Canadian Cheese Grand Prix helps consumers learn more about great Canadian cheeses available in their local grocery or cheese store.
Visit dairyfarmers.ca for more information about the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix.
About Dairy Farmers of Canada
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) strives to create favourable conditions for the Canadian dairy industry, today and in the future. DFC works to maintain policies that foster the viability of Canadian dairy producers and to promote quality Canadian dairy products made from 100% Canadian milk as part of a healthy balanced diet.
Source: Dairy Farmers of Canada
