LaClare Creamery Nabs Top Honors At Cheese Competition

LaClare Creamery recently was awarded first place for its fig & cheese honey goat cheese at the 21st biennial United States Championship Cheese Contest.

The Malone, Wis.-based company, which sells products to retailers for private brand assortments, received a score of 99.275 in the Soft Goat’s Milk Cheeses Flavored with Sweet Condiments category. The winning product combines LaClare’s original goat cheese with sweet figs and honey to provide a balance of flavors.

“It is a great honor to be recognized as Best of Class in this prestigious competition,” said Patrick Considine, national sales director at LaClare Creamery. “This award affirms the commitment and hard work of our team to pursue perfection from farm to table. As a 100% domestically produced goat cheese brand, we have complete control over the quality of our milk, ensuring fresh, clean flavors every time.” 

Hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association since 1981, the dairy competition took place in Green Bay in late February. As the dairy processing industry’s premier competition, the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest received more than 2,000 entries from cheesemakers in 35 states. 

Entries of cheese, butter, and yogurt were evaluated by a team of 42 nationally renowned dairy experts on a variety of merits, including flavor, body, texture, and appearance. Starting from a maximum possible score of 100, deductions are made for any defects identified by judges.