Swiss Valley, Tillamook among top winners at NMPF cheese competition

tillamook, cheddar, monterey jack

Dairy Foods

Swiss Valley Farms' Regular Swiss was judged Best Overall Cheese, and Tillamook Cheese received eight awards at the National Milk Producers Federation's (NMPF) annual meeting held Nov. 29--Dec. 2 in San Francisco.

Swiss Valley placed 1st 2nd and 3rd in the Swiss category with cheeses from three different facilities. The Regular Swiss from the Luana, Iowa plant scored 99.85 and went on to take the top prize.

Among the top awards winners for Tillamook were Monterey Jack, winning first and second, with scores of 99.8 and 99.6 respectively, in the natural cheese category. In the unique/flavored category, TCCA won another first place, with a score of 99.6, for Tillamook Pepper Jack, and a second place award for Tillamook Colby Jack with a score of 98.9.

Agri-Mark won the best Cheddar award with a medium Cheddar from the Middlebury, Vt., facility that scored 99.6. Best Italian-style cheese went to Cass Clay, Hoven, S.D. for an Asiago.