US Championship Cheese Contest starts in Wisconsin

GREEN BAY, Wis. – More cheese, butter and yogurt makers than ever before have entered the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest.

The three-day event started Tuesday in Green Bay. It’s considered the largest technical cheese, butter and yogurt competition in the country.

Organizers say there were 2,555 entries this year, an 11 per cent increase compared to 2017, the last year the biennial event was held. There were also 29 new entrants this year, a record high.

The categories with the most entries are Cheddars, Brick and Muenster, and Latin American Style Melting cheeses.

Entries came in from 35 states. They’re judged on flavour, body, texture, salt, colour, finish and packaging.

In 2017, the champion was the Reserve Black Pepper BellaVitano made by Sartori, based in Plymouth, Wisconsin.