The American Cheese Society announced its 35th annual conference and competition, scheduled for July 28 in Pittsburgh. The event moves to a different host city each year; in 2018 Pittsburgh will welcome cheesemakers, retailers and the public for a large Festival of Cheese. Attendees can expect thousands of cheeses available for sampling, specialty foods and rare cheeses offered at significant discounts.
The American Cheese Society is a nonprofit organization representing artisan, farmstead and specialty cheesemakers as well as specialty cheese retailers. Focused on education and communication, the society held its first conference in 1983 and added the competition and public festival in 1985. The competition has grown from 89 entries initially to more than 2,000 entries from nearly 300 brands. In addition to industry professionals, roughly 2,000 members of the public typically attend the festival each year.
“We have about 2,000 cheeses that are out for sampling and tasting, and winners are clearly marked,” said Nora Weiser, executive director of the American Cheese Society. “Around the room you’ll find purveyors offering crackers, charcuterie, beers or wines, jams, chocolates and other items that pair with cheese. It’s a festive atmosphere — the mother of all cheese festivals — and you won’t see so much cheese anywhere else. There’s also a sale at the end where people can buy cheeses at steep discounts and discover products that may not be available in their region. Proceeds support the American Cheese Education Foundation, which funds scholarships, resources and training for cheesemakers.”
Beyond cheeses from across the Americas, the festival highlights regional culinary specialties from the host city and nearby areas, giving visitors a taste of local producers and traditions.
Weiser noted that festival visitors often encounter cheeses they’ve never seen or heard of before. “U.S. producers are incredibly creative, and every year new varieties appear,” she said. Recent trends include more creatively flavored cheeses — she mentioned gouda infused with fenugreek as an emerging favorite — along with a growing interest in sheep’s milk cheeses.
There are two primary ways for the public to attend. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to support judging and the festival: volunteers receive free entry and can apply online. For others, festival tickets are available for purchase for $65 through the American Cheese Society’s website.