[photo source: United States Championship Cheese Contest]

The United States Championship Cheese Contest is the largest technical evaluation of cheese, butter and yogurt in the United States and is rooted in more than 120 years of history, beginning when the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association held its first cheese contest in 1891. In recent years, the event has more than doubled in size since 2001. In 2015 more than 33,000 pounds of dairy products were entered into the contest acorss 90 classes (ie categories).

North Jersey cheese competitors placed in six different classes, with teams from Ridgefield, Fairfield and Secaucus among the field. They were as follows:

3rd Place – RICOTTA: Joe Taranto (Ridgefield)
3rd Place – PARMESAN: Arthur Schuman Inc (Fairfield)
2nd Place – ASIAGO: Arthur Schuman Inc (Fairfield)
3rd Place – GORGONZOLA: Arthur Schuman Inc (Fairfield)
2nd Place – FLAVORED SEMI-SOFT CHEESES: Toscana Cheese Company (Secaucus)
2nd Place – PREPARED CHEESE FOODS: Arthur Schuman Inc (Fairfield)

For more information on the contest, as well as complete results for all 90 entry classes and contest photos, visit the United States Championship Cheese Contest website.