Top Honors Awarded at Annual Cheese Contest

St. Pete’s Select Blue Cheese earned one of the top honors at the 2020 North Central Cheese Industries Association annual cheese contest held in Norwood, Minnesota. St. Pete’s finished second in the miscellaneous category with a score of 99.003.

Entries for the NCCIA Cheese Contest competed in three categories including Cheddar Block, Barrel, and Miscellaneous. Judging took place at Bongards’ Creameries in Norwood, MN by professionally-trained judges. All entries were graded with an official scorecard identifying the grade and feedback of the products submitted. Judges selected one Grand Champion, as well as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category.

Contest winners were recognized during the NCCIA annual conference on October 14th, where award-winning cheeses were put up for auction at the conference. Proceeds from the conference and auction are used to support annual scholarships at the University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, South Dakota State University and University of Wisconsin-River Falls.