World Cheese Awards, the most important meeting of cheese industry

2009-10-02

World Cheese Awards, the most important meeting of cheese industry

• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has become these days the world capital city of cheese. The celebration of the World Cheese Awards, the most important international event in the dairy industry has gathered many people in the Canary Islands Conventions Centre

• This new edition of the World Cheese Awards has confirmed the booming in dairy production in the Canaries, which have earned 21 gold medals in different categories

• The award “Best Cheese of the World” went to Le Cendrillon, a Canadian product from ‘La Maison Alexis De Portneuf’

The celebration of the World Cheese Awards, one of the most important international events in the cheese sector, has been a great success. Until now, a great number of people have attended the Canary Islands’ Convention Centre to participate in this meeting where over 2.000 cheeses from 35 countries competed for the first place and get the best cheese of the world award.

After being celebrated in the UK for 20 years, organized by the British company The Guild of Fine Food, it came out last year to Ireland. Now, for the first time in history, the World Cheese Awards leave the British Islands heading for the Canaries during the three first October days due to the potential of this industry in the Archipelago shown in the past, and the concern of producers and different institutions in production, retailing and international promotion of Canarian cheese.

This edition of the World Cheese Awards will continue in the Canary Islands Convention Centre until October 3rd. It has confirmed the booming in the dairy industry in the Canaries, which have earned 21 gold medals in different categories out of 145 (almost a 15% of the awards) distributed between Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

The Best Cheese Award went to Le Cendrillon, a Canadian product from ‘La Maison Alexis De Portneuf’, which received the prize yesterday from the president of the Cooperative Society of Quesería de Arico (winner in 2008), and from the Counselor of Agriculture, Fishery and Food of the Canarian Government, Pilar Merino.

The fermented cheese Bodega Oveja, from the farm Uga BTL Lanzarote, was classified between the best five in the world. This product, elaborated by cheese master Francisco Fabelo, along with El Tofio Curado, from SAT Ganaderos of Fuerteventura S.L., passed to the Grand Final of the International cheese-tasting between the best thirteen out of 2.440 cheeses from all over the world.

A great contest

The World Cheese Awards is characterized for being a contest with activities and many seminars. One of the parallel activities was the World Cheese Exhibition & Festival, which gave the opportunity to Canarian; Spanish and European producers get to know each other in the WCA.

During this Friday and Saturday, the Festival will open up their doors to general public, to become a true celebration of the cheese industry in Gran Canaria.

Sinergy between cheese and wine, invite to know the wine production in the Archipelago. For this reason, in the WCA a special room was settled to promote Canarian wines. Here many consolidated Designation of Origin and cellars were present.

Cheese is very important in the Canary Islands gastronomy; in fact, the consumption per person is the highest in Spain. Each year the Islands produce about 8.000 tons of cheese, most of it for inner market. Besides, The Canary Islands are visited annually for over 10 millions of tourists; it makes them an interesting market place for national and international retailers.

2009-10-02
World Cheese Awards, the most important meeting of cheese industry
	• Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has become these days the world capital city of cheese. The celebration of the World Cheese Awards, the most important international event in the dairy industry has gathered many people in the Canary Islands Conventions Centre • This new edition of the World Cheese Awards has confirmed the booming in dairy production in the Canaries, which have earned 21 gold medals in different categories • The award “Best Cheese of the World” went to Le Cendrillon, a Canadian product from ‘La Maison Alexis De Portneuf’ The celebration of the World Cheese Awards, one of the most important international events in the cheese sector, has been a great success. Until now, a great number of people have attended the Canary Islands’ Convention Centre to participate in this meeting where over 2.000 cheeses from 35 countries competed for the first place and get the best cheese of the world award. After being celebrated in the UK for 20 years, organized by the British company The Guild of Fine Food, it came out last year to Ireland. Now, for the first time in history, the World Cheese Awards leave the British Islands heading for the Canaries during the three first October days due to the potential of this industry in the Archipelago shown in the past, and the concern of producers and different institutions in production, retailing and international promotion of Canarian cheese. This edition of the World Cheese Awards will continue in the Canary Islands Convention Centre until October 3rd. It has confirmed the booming in the dairy industry in the Canaries, which have earned 21 gold medals in different categories out of 145 (almost a 15% of the awards) distributed between Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. The Best Cheese Award went to Le Cendrillon, a Canadian product from ‘La Maison Alexis De Portneuf’, which received the prize yesterday from the president of the Cooperative Society of Quesería de Arico (winner in 2008), and from the Counselor of Agriculture, Fishery and Food of the Canarian Government, Pilar Merino. The fermented cheese Bodega Oveja, from the farm Uga BTL Lanzarote, was classified between the best five in the world. This product, elaborated by cheese master Francisco Fabelo, along with El Tofio Curado, from SAT Ganaderos of Fuerteventura S.L., passed to the Grand Final of the International cheese-tasting between the best thirteen out of 2.440 cheeses from all over the world. A great contest The World Cheese Awards is characterized for being a contest with activities and many seminars. One of the parallel activities was the World Cheese Exhibition & Festival, which gave the opportunity to Canarian; Spanish and European producers get to know each other in the WCA. During this Friday and Saturday, the Festival will open up their doors to general public, to become a true celebration of the cheese industry in Gran Canaria. Sinergy between cheese and wine, invite to know the wine production in the Archipelago. For this reason, in the WCA a special room was settled to promote Canarian wines. Here many consolidated Designation of Origin and cellars were present. Cheese is very important in the Canary Islands gastronomy; in fact, the consumption per person is the highest in Spain. Each year the Islands produce about 8.000 tons of cheese, most of it for inner market. Besides, The Canary Islands are visited annually for over 10 millions of tourists; it makes them an interesting market place for national and international retailers.