Across the industry, you can see and feel the eagerness of suppliers and operators to return to the trade show floor. Much to their delight, the American Cheese Society recently announced that its highly anticipated event will return next year. The American Cheese Society (ACS) Judging and Competition will take place May 19–20 at the TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, campus. The Judging and Competition (J&C) will be held separately from the Conference in 2022 for the first time. Entries will open in October 2021, with winners announced at the 39th ACS Annual Conference, which will be held in Portland, Oregon, from July 20–23, 2022.
“Given the extraordinary year we’ve all had, we are very excited to welcome entries for the Judging and Competition this October,” said Lynn Giacomini Stray, Board Vice President. “This is a significant event which celebrates the individual efforts of talented cheesemakers who continue to collectively advance the quality and character of American cheeses, while offering our members the opportunity for valuable feedback from expert judges.”
The ACS Competition highlights American cheesemakers by showcasing both their excellent cheesemaking and commitment to food safety. Growing from just 89 entries 37 years ago, the ACS J&C welcomed cheeses and cultured dairy products from 257 companies in 2019, when it was last held in Richmond, Virginia. Competing entries represented 35 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, Mexico, and Brazil, and gave out a total of 433 awards. The 2022 event is expected to receive 1,500 entries in 120 categories, a press release stated.
Cheeses entered in the competition will be received May 17–18, 2022, with judging from May 19-20. More information will be shared at the virtual 38th ACS Conference.
Good luck to all those who enter! May the best cheeseheads win.
