SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – A Summerside-based cheese producer has won accolades for taste and quality.
Dairy Isle has won first place in three categories at the venerable British Empire Cheese Show. The only winner from Atlantic Canada, Dairy Isle is made from 100 per cent local milk from ADL.
This is the second major win in cheese competitions for ADL this month, following on their victory at the Royal Agricultural Fair.
“It is truly an honour to accept these prestigious awards from the British Empire Cheese Show,” said Lee Turner, sales manager. “These awards speak to the commitment that our P.E.I. farmer-owners have to producing high-quality milk, and our cheese maker’s attention to detail and time-honoured recipes.”
The 90th-anniversary cheese show was held in Toronto, Ontario earlier this month.
Dairy Isle takes an old-fashioned approach to cheese making, using only Atlantic Canadian milk and hand turning the cheese in small batches. It’s a slow process – the cheese is naturally aged with no enhancers or artificial enzymes, and includes no filler ingredients.
“These awards are a testament to the quality milk that comes from our P.E.I. farms, the various levels of grading we undertake of our milk and cheese, and the insistence on quality and consistency from our cheese makers,” said Darcy Carr, Dairy Isle Master Cheese Maker. “This is a tremendous recognition that is shared equally by our farmer-owners and all our production staff.”
These awards recognize Dairy Isle as a national leader in quality cheddar cheese.
Dairy Isle is made by Amalgamated Dairies Limited (ADL), a co-op wholly owned by 165 P.E.I. dairy producers. Established in 1953, ADL is the largest cheese producer in Atlantic Canada. Dairy Isle is available in grocery stores around the Maritimes.
The British Empire Cheese Show was established by the Central Ontario Cheesemaker Association as an opportunity for Canadian cheese makers to compete with others across Canada and the British Empire. Now in its 90th year, it is Canada’s oldest display and competition for cheese makers and is attended by cheese makers, industry representatives, suppliers, and buyers from across Canada.
Dairy Isle received awards in the following categories:
Dairy Isle Mild – 1st Place
Dairy Isle Sharp – 1st Place
Dairy Isle Medium – 3rd Place
Highest Aggregate Cheddar Score – 1st Place.
