ELLSWORTH – The National Milk Producers Federation honored Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery with the Chairman’s Trophy for its Antonella Pepperoni and Marinara Cheese recently, recognizing Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery for producing the best cheese in the nationwide Championship Cheese Contest. Ellsworth also received several other awards in multiple categories.

The National Milk Producers Federation is comprised of a majority of the dairy cooperatives in the United States with its members marketing more than two-thirds of the U.S. milk supply.

“Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery cheeses continue to be recognized for their worldclass quality thanks to the hard work of our farmers and employees,” said Paul Bauer, CEO and general manager of Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery. “We are proud to be recognized by the National Milk Producers Federation and want to thank all those who made receiving these awards possible.”

This year, the contest received a total of 216 cheese and yogurt entries, said Bauer.

What makes the award even more special, he added, is the fact that the cheese was produced in the creamery’s new Menomonie facility.

“To create a cheese that competes and wins at this level within the first year of cheese production in a new facility is a feat,” Bauer said.

The judges were impressed with the cheese’s flavor, which they found to be a perfect balance of cheese, pepperoni, marinara and herbs. They also remarked on the technique and the difficulty of infusing meat into cheese without having technical openings in the final product.

In addition to receiving the Chairman’s Trophy for the best cheese product in the contest, Ellsworth also swept the Natural Cheese Snack Category. The cooperative received first place for its Natural Dill Pickle Cheddar Cheese Curds, second place for its Natural Hickory Bacon Cheddar Cheese Curds, and third place for its Natural Cheddar Cheese Curds. According to an insider, the Dill Pickle Cheese Curds were a close contender for the Chairman’s Trophy.

Ellsworth placed first and second in the Unique or Mild Flavor Category for its Antonella Pepperoni and Marinara Cheese and Antonella Garden Vegetable with Sweet Basil Cheese. The cooperative also placed third in the Processed American Plain category for its White EZ Melt Loaf.

“It was satisfying and rewarding to see the awards table filled with Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery value-added cheeses produced at all of our locations,” said Bauer. “These awards are a true testament to our quality milk, skilled team members, and the process we’ve worked so hard to develop to produce some outstanding cheeses.”

A full list of awards can be found at Ellsworthcheese. com. Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery is a farmer-owned co-op based in the Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin, Ellsworth. For 112 years their 250 patron family dairy farms and dedicated employees have been proudly producing award-winning cheese curds and artisan cheeses.

Submitted by Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery