Source: NCDA&CS, 10/14/15

Winners were announced in the fifth-annual cheese competition at the N.C. State Fair. This year’s competition saw 44 entries from 11 cheese makers from across the state.

Boxcarr Handmade Cheese in Cedar Grove won Best of Show and Best of NC for its Cottonseed cheese. Boxcarr is a relative newcomer having just started commercial production earlier this year.

All entries were judged by a panel consisting of American Cheese Society-certified judges, cheese buyers for local grocery stores and faculty from N.C. State University’s food science department. Each cheese received a technical score and an aesthetic score. The two scores were totaled together for a possible 100 points. The following cheeses were awarded first place in their respective categories for receiving scores between 93 and 100:
• Cheddar: Ashford Cheddar by English Farmstead in Marion. 
• Swiss: Swiss by Chapel Hill Creamery in Chapel Hill. 
• Mozzarella: Mozzarella by Chapel Hill Creamery in Chapel Hill. 
• Feta: Brined Feta by Buffalo Creek Farm and Creamery in Germanton. 
• Flavored Soft Cheese: Smoked Round by Goat Lady Dairy in Climax. 
• Smear Ripened Cheese: Campo by Boxcarr Handmade Cheese in Cedar Grove; and Hickory Grove by Chapel Hill Creamery in Chapel Hill. 
• Open-Soft Ripened: Smoked Round by Goat Lady Dairy in Climax; and Carolina Moon by Chapel Hill Creamery in Chapel Hill. 
• Open-Soft and Spreadable: Fromage Blanc by English Farmstead Cheese in Marion. 
• Open Hard Cheese: Calvander by Chapel Hill Creamery in Chapel Hill. 
• Goat’s Milk Fresh Chevre Cheese (Flavored): Pimento Chevre by Holly Grove Farms in Mt. Olive; and French Kiss by Celebrity Dairy in Siler City. 
• Goat’s Milk Fresh Chevre Cheese (Unflavored): Plain Chevre by Kilby Family Farm in Asheboro; and Pure Chevre by Celebrity Dairy in Siler City. 
• Sheep & Mixed Milk Cheese: Cottonseed by Boxcarr Handmade Cheese in Cedar Grove. 
• American Originals Open Cow or Goats Milk: Field of Creams by Prodigal Farm in Rougemont. 

All of the cheeses will be on display in the Education Building during the N.C. State Fair, Oct. 15-25. Many of the cheeses also will be available for sampling and purchase at the Got to Be NC Dairy Products tent located between the Waterfall and the Graham Building.