World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest Announces Grand Champion Winners
In a contest drawing a record number of entries, a Maine-based company earns a top award for its ice cream.
Source: World Dairy Expo
In judging held earlier this month, three U.S. dairy processors earned top recognition in the World Dairy Expo (WDE) Championship Dairy Product Contest.
Sartori Company of Plymouth, Wis., was selected as the Cheese and Butter Grand Champion, Upstate Niagara Co-op, of Buffalo, N.Y., was selected as the Grade A Grand Champion, and Gifford’s Dairy of Skowhegan, Maine, was the Ice Cream Grand Champion.
This year’s contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn. (WDPA), received a record number of 820 entries for cheese, butter, fluid milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, sour cream, sherbet, cultured milk, sour cream dips, whipping cream, dried whey and creative/innovative products from dairy processors throughout North America.
"It is amazing how dairy manufacturers have embraced this contest," says Brad Legreid, executive director of WDPA. "Due to the tremendous support from dairy companies throughout North America, the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest has averaged a 15% annual rate of growth over its first 11 years. This is unprecedented growth for a dairy product contest. This growth is a direct reflection of the high level of interest that dairy processors have in entering the only judging contest of its kind in North America. Because this contest is all encompassing, dairy manufacturers have the unique opportunity to compete in a prestigious, all-dairy national contest."
Judging was held on Aug. 13-14 at the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Culinary School and Aug. 15 at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Babcock Hall. These locations proved to be very successful venues for the contest judging. "MATC and UW were very supportive of this contest," said Legreid.
On Oct. 1, the contest’s auction will be held at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., when all category first-place winners will be auctioned off. A portion of the proceeds from the Oct. 1 auction will be used to fund various scholarships. These scholarships are awarded annually to deserving students pursuing careers in the dairy industry. The auction will begin at 5 p.m. and will feature Doug Wilson, Cooperative Resources International, as the auctioneer. For more information on the contest and auction, please call 608-836-3336.
Please contact Wisconsin Dairy Products Association for further contest details.
