Cheese HAACP Training Offered in VT

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The Vermont Cheese Council will hold a two day Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) training for cheesemakers and cheesemaking operations.

Dates: Wednesdays, October 6 and 13, 2010
Time: 9:30am-4pm
Location: Provisions International, 42 North Main Street in White River Junction
Cost: $100 ($50/day)
To register: email Rachel Fritz Schaal or call 866.261.8595

Participants will:
Develop a HACCP plan from milk though packaged cheese
Conduct a hazard analysis
Identify Critical Control Points (CCPs) and set critical limits
Monitor CCPs and establish appropriate corrective actions
Validate your CCPs and verify your HACCP plan
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Sheep & Goat Reproduction Seminar

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This message is to announce the the Sheep & Goat Reproduction Seminar planned for October 23 and 24 in Fairfield and New Sharon. The seminar will feature Tennessee Small Ruminant Specialist, Dr. An Peischel and UMaine Animal Science Professor, Dr. James Weber. The Saturday session will feature the science of reproduction. The Sunday session will feature artificial insemination of goats (Sunday session limited to 14 people).

A mailing was recently sent to all sheep and goat producers in Maine regarding the seminar. However, feel free to pass this message onto interested parties (farmers and 4-H types) in your realm.

Here is the link to the seminar.

Guild Members Awarded at 2010 ACS Competition

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Congratulations to two Maine Cheese Guild cheese makers who were awarded multiple ribbons at the 2010 American Cheese Society conference competition, the largest cheese competition in North America including entries from the US, Canada, and Mexico.

A total of five awards went to the two Guild members: Pineland Farms Creamery won three awards; Appleton Creamery won two awards. Maine maintains its lock on the Feta category, with each cheese maker winning ribbons there, while Pineland’s Salsa Jack has won awards for several years.

All the 2010 ACS competition awards can be found here.

Soft-ripened white mold cheeses, flavor added:
1st place — Appleton Creamery, “Camella”

Feta, cow’s milk:
3rd place: Pineland Farms Creamery, “Feta”

Feta, sheep’s milk:
1st Appleton Creamery, “Sophia Feta”

Monterrey Jack, flavor added:
3rd place: Pineland Farm Creamery, “Salsa Jack”

Cheese Spreads, flavor added:
2nd place: Pineland Farms Creamery, “Spreadable Salsa Jack”