Prairie Farms Wins NMPF Cheese and Yogurt Contest

Prairie Farms Dairy won the Chairman’s Award in this year’s NMPF Cheese and Yogurt Contest, a mark of co-op quality and prestige.

This year’s annual edition of the cheese and yogurt contest for member cooperatives included 252 entries from 14 participating NMPF co-ops, a total of 3,350 pounds (1.52 metric tons) of cheese and yogurt. The high-quality cheeses and yogurt from the NMPF membership highlight U.S.-made dairy products and our continuing promotion of the REAL® Seal.

The entered products are assessed against scoring standards for the ideal cheese or yogurt in each class. NMPF thanks the judges for helping with the contest this year: Ms. Allison Reynolds (lead judge), USDA, Dairy Grading Branch, Turlock, California; Mr. Timothy Meyers, College of DuPage, Glenn Ellyn, Illinois; Dr. Gina Mode, CDR, University of Wisconsin, Madison; and Chad Galer, Dairy Management Inc., Rosemont, IL.

Prairie Farms won for its Cave Aged Rinded Swiss, produced in Faribault, MN. Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery won the Chairman’s Reserve Award for its Pepperoni with Marinara Rub produced in Menomonie, WI. Best in Class awards included:

  • Best Cheddar – Makers Reserve Extra Sharp White Cheddar 2014 from Tillamook County Creamery Association, Tillamook, OR
  • Best Cottage Cheese – Peach Yogurt from Dairy Farmers of America, Farmington, MN
  • Best Italian – Pasteurized Blue Cheese from Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., Faribault, MN
  • Best Yogurt – Triple Cream Vanilla Bean Greek Yogurt from Agri‐Mark, Inc., Cabot, VT

In a first, the cheese contest was featured in an RFD-TV news package, highlighting the contest’s value to members and its rich history.

Extra cheese and yogurt from the contest and dairy products from the dairy bar were donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a private, nonprofit organization that collects, stores and distributes donated food to more than 625 feeding partners in seven Central Florida counties: Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia.

Last year, with the help of numerous donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed enough food for 81 million meals to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers and Kids Cafes.