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The competition was held February 21st and 22nd in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.
The "nation's most respected and honored cheese and butter competition", the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest determines the best and tastiest cheeses and butters produced in the United States. The contest's official website states that the "entries are evaluated by a team of skilled technical judges from across the nation. Starting from a maximum possible 100 points, deductions are made for various defects found by each judge. Defects are noted in the areas of flavor, body and texture, salt, color, finish, packaging, and other appropriate attributes. A Gold medal, Silver medal and Bronze medal are awarded to the three highest-scoring entries in each class."
On Thursday, February 23, 2023, the 2023 Champion Cheese was announced. With a near perfect score of 98.739, the winner is Europa by Arethusa Farm located in Bantam, Connecticut! Europa is Arethusa Farm's take on a classic Dutch Gouda, with nutty notes of butterscotch and broth. It is aged for 6-12 months and has a smooth, dense, meltable texture.
Arethusa Farm expressed their excitement about the win on their Facebook page, writing: "We’re incredibly thankful for our entire Cheese Team for everything they’ve done. It can’t be overstated how much of an honor this is. Our team has consistently worked hard to deliver only the best, so to receive this level of recognition means the world to them. It’s really amazing how far we’ve come, so thank you everyone for all your support for Arethusa Farm Dairy, and for allowing us to continue creating and doing what we love."
The two runners up were Vintage Cupola American Original Cheese by Red Barn Family Farms with a score of 98.613 and a Cheddar by Associated Milk Producers Inc. with a score of 98.554.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
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