Sweet Grass Dairy Wins 3rd Place At 2012 American Cheese Society Competition
August 14, 2012 | 2 min to read
THOMASVILLE, GA – Sweet Grass Dairy, one of the nation’s premier family-owned handcrafted cheesemakers won third-place for Green Hill in the Soft-Ripened Cheese category at the 2012 American Cheese Society (ACS) Annual Conference and Competition in Raleigh, NC. This is Green Hill’s seventh ribbon in the last nine years. It has won first place twice, second place three times, and third place twice.
“We are humbled any time our cheeses are recognized,” said Sweet Grass Dairy Owners, Jeremy and Jessica Little. “But, it’s especially rewarding when the accolades come from a group of individuals that are deeply dedicated to continually improving the American handcrafted cheese industry. The ACS competition really is the pinnacle for U.S. cheesemakers.”
The ACS Annual Conference was first held in 1983 and was attended by just 150 people. The first Competition began in 1985 with 30 cheesemakers, 89 cheeses and seven categories. This year’s competition featured 254 cheesemakers, 1,711 cheeses were judged and more than 800 people registered. This year was also the first time the ACS held its signature event in the Southeastern U.S.
“The growth of handcrafted cheeses in the U.S. is amazing,” said the Littles. “There are so many terrific cheesemakers out there now and we’re blown away by the quality of what’s being made. And, even more exciting for us is watching the growth of Southern cheesemakers. It’s completely taken off and we couldn’t be more ecstatic to be a part of that movement.”
Since its founding in 2000, Sweet Grass Dairy has won 24 ribbons at the ACS conference. Additionally, Sweet Grass Dairy has received three medals at the World Cheese Awards. Green Hill is its most decorated cheese.
“We’ve been quite fortunate over the years,” said the Littles. “We try not to read press clippings, but we aren’t going to lie and say it doesn’t make us smile. It absolutely does. Mostly, we’re extremely proud because we know how hard our entire team works every day. They are the real reason we’ve done so well.”
About Sweet Grass Dairy
Based in Thomasville, Georgia Sweet Grass Dairy is a family-owned and operated farm that handcrafts fresh, soft-ripened and naturally aged cow cheeses that are unique and delicious. Sweet Grass Dairy is dedicated to creating old-world style cheeses that highlight the rich, high quality milk we use.
Our milk comes from family-owned rotationally grazed cows that never receive growth hormones or unnecessary antibiotics.
About The American Cheese Society
The American Cheese Society (ACS) is a not-for- profit trade organization founded in 1983 to support the North American artisan and specialty cheese industry. ACS provides advocacy, education, business development, and networking opportunities for members of the cheese industry, while striving to continually raise the quality and availability of cheese in North America. For more information and a complete list of winners please visit: http://www.cheesesociety.org
Source: Sweet Grass Dairy