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Call for Volunteers
ACS is seeking volunteers in Seattle to assist with unloading and staging cheese on Thursday, August 19 and Friday, August 20, in preparation for our annual Judging & Competition. Volunteers are also needed to provide competition support on Tuesday, August 24 and Wednesday, August 25. As a token of our appreciation, volunteers will be rewarded with special gifts ranging from t-shirts to conference day passes, depending on their level of involvement. Please email Alison Leber for more information. |
Join Us at the Town Hall Meeting in Seattle
In preparation for the annual ACS Town Hall Meeting in Seattle (Friday, August 27, from
8:15 AM - 9:30 AM), facilitators Steve Jenkins and David Gremmels
have compiled a list of topics for discussion. Although additional topics
will be welcomed from the floor, members are strongly encouraged to seriously consider these questions in advance of the
meeting. Please join us to listen in, speak up,
and engage in lively discussion with fellow ACS members. Review this year's springboard topics. |
Credit Card Savings - Check it Out in Seattle
When you're
packing for Seattle, don't forget to pack a recent monthly statement from your
credit card processor. The newest benefit for ACS members is
discounted credit card processing offered by our official merchant services
provider, Renaissance Associates (RA). Stop by the RA table in the
registration area at the Sheraton Seattle and they'll conduct
a free analysis of your statement. Then, they'll let you know how much
you could be saving by switching to RA. If you won't be in
Seattle, you can fax your statement to RA at 1-866-469-3761 for your savings
comparison. |
Make the Most of Your Visit to Seattle
If you're heading to Seattle for Cheese-a-Topia, you'll want to set aside time to enjoy the sights and sounds of this vibrant city! The links below will help you get the most out of your visit to the Emerald City: Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau offers information about cultural attractions, tours, sporting events, lodging, and more. Seattle 101: A Guide for Travelers and Tourists includes details about climate and weather, shopping, dining, transportation, and more. The Seattle Weekly Restaurant Guide is a great source for dining recommendations. Follow the local, sustainable food scene on the Slow Food Seattle chapter's website. Explore one of Seattle's best-known (and tastiest) landmarks - Pike Place Market. |
Call for Cheese!
After the ACS's successful presence at the Brewers Association's (BA's) SAVOR
event in Washington, D.C. we are gearing up to spread the word about North American
cheese to more beer lovers at the BA's Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver,
CO, September 16-18, 2010. ACS will have a dedicated area at GABF to showcase cheese from our members. We invite you to participate by donating cheese, crackers, or other related products - or by volunteering to help
in our booth. Click here for details. |
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Member Profile:
Larkhaven Farm
by Liz Campbell
Clare Paris didn't let a small income stop her. She, her young children and their father decided that they would live on the land in Washington State, with no power or water, producing most of what they consumed. In order to "earn a goat," Clare worked in a neighbor's garden. That first goat got her making cheese and she's never looked back. Read more about Clare and Larkhaven Farm. |
Recipe of the Month
This month's recipe comes from ACS member and author Laura Werlin. It's a great way to enjoy the last weeks of summer: combining portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, fresh oregano, provolone, and asiago cheese on the grill.
Laura will sign books at the ACS Conference Bookstore in Seattle on Thursday, August 26, from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM.
Grilled Portobello and Provolone Sandwich from Great Grilled Cheese (Stewart, Tabori & Chang). 
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Cheese in the News
Drinking Raw Milk Is Worth The Risk, Advocates Say - National Public Radio,
July 19
Raw-food Raid Highlights a Hunger - Los Angeles Times, July 25
The American Cheese Society Comes to Seattle - The Seattle Times, July 24
Cheesemonger Jaimie Casey Preaches Gospel of Cheese - July 28, Bay Area News Group
Chester County Cheese Makers Form Alliance - July 31, The Phoenix
Local Demand Keeps Cheese Makers Busy - August 4, Statesman Journal
A Wine Tour for Cheese Lovers - August 5, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Say Cheese - or, Better Yet - Cheddar - August 7, The Montreal Gazette
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ACS Education Database
ACS's Education Database provides a central, searchable
directory of cheese education programs in North America. The list is being
updated, so if you wish to be included, please complete this form. Your input will help ACS build
the most comprehensive database of its type!
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Cheese-a-Topia is Just Weeks Away
 Dear Friends,
Cheese-a-Topia 2010 is almost here. I am thankful for the many volunteers who
have given so much daily for nearly sixteen months in the orchestration of
every detail of the conference. The fantastic three - Sasha Davies, Kurt
Dammeier and Julie Riendl - have worked tirelessly to build what I believe is
the most content-rich conference in ACS's history. This conference is supported by the largest
body of sponsors yet, which has helped keep registration costs
low and content strong. Sasha Davies,
conference co-chair, has worked with our new executive staff and volunteer
committees to build an impressive grid of activities from our "Meet
the Cheesemaker" event, to our Merchandising Competition, to our Festival of Cheese. Other hosted activities include the annual
ACS Business Meeting, the Town Hall Meeting, a Cheese Certification and Body of
Knowledge task force meeting, the Raw Milk Cheesemakers Association Meeting, and
more. Impressive indeed! The conference has evolved into a
remarkable learning experience for all of us connected to cheese.
Cheese-a-Topia would not be possible without your input and
involvement, and the commitment of our valued sponsors. I thank each and every one of you for the
ideas shared at the Town Hall Meeting in Austin, TX, and for your response
to post-conference and member
surveys. That valuable input has directly impacted planning of this conference. We look forward to a great educational experience in Seattle, but we also look forward to fun. Enjoy the waterfront view from the Seattle
Aquarium at the opening reception presented by our 2010 Diamond Sponsor, Dairy
Farmers of Oregon, after attending a full day that starts with an opening
keynote address by Laurie Demeritt. Then
participate in the many varied sessions to follow: learn about conscious eating
from Michael Pollan; enjoy a scientific and sensory
examination of bandage-wrapped cheddar with Dr. MaryAnne Drake; experience a crisis
training drill by DMI; attend the annual Town Hall Meeting hosted by Steven Jenkins and myself; explore my
favorite subject, blue cheese, with Laura Werlin; and so much more. Whether it
is business planning, modeling and strategy, recipe development, hands-on cheese making, merchandising training,
understanding the current state of the cheese industry, learning
from the successes and mistakes of others, or reconnecting with friends and colleagues,
there is so much to be discovered at this conference. More importantly, you will expand the most
important resource we share - our association's network, and the talent and
knowledge of its members.
Building a conference is a dynamic and passionate process,
and there is no better time for you to participate on a committee or initiative
then right now. I
encourage each of you to talk with the board of directors and committee chairs
about the volunteer activities available with ACS, particularly as we
begin planning for the 2011 conference in Montreal (save the dates: August 3-6).
Cheese-a-Topia is sure to nourish your mind, recharge your
passion, and invigorate thoughtful dialogue in our remarkable, vibrant ACS
cheese community. I guarantee it will be information-rich, interactive, and fun. If you missed
conference preregistration, I encourage you to register on site at
the Sheraton Seattle starting August 25th. I look forward to seeing
you there.
This is your association,
David Gremmels President
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Get Connected by Disconnecting
Technology has done amazing things for our lives. It has changed the way we work and live, and
it has done so almost seamlessly. Each
new advance builds upon the last, until we suddenly realize that we can't
function without our phone or a Wifi connection. But what we can't live without isn't really the
technology - what we fear missing without access to our technology is
connections. And the one thing all the
gadgets in the world truly cannot give us is the power of face-to-face
contact. As we become more reliant
on text messages, email, and Facebook, we often overlook the fact that the goal of
all these systems is to connect on a personal and meaningful level. That is why I am looking forward to meeting
you in Seattle later this month.
Over
the phone and via email, I have "met" many of you in my first six months with
ACS. But it will be a simple, in-person meeting that will show me your passion
for this industry, your kindness, your humor, your concerns, your priorities,
and your state of mind. I hope that all of you who are joining us in Seattle
will remember that you are not just there to attend sessions or to find new
business partners. I hope you will turn
off your iPhone or Blackberry for at least a brief time, and make the kinds of real-world connections that are only possible once a year at the ACS conference. The conference truly is about you and for you, and it is your best
opportunity to connect with a vast and diverse community of
peers. And, once you've made those
in-person connections, rest assured that the technology will be there for you after
the conference to make those connections last.
The ACS staff and I look forward to meeting you in Seattle!
Sincerely,
Nora Weiser
Executive Director
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Good to Know Before You Go
Pre-registration
for ACS 2010 in Seattle has closed - but you can still register on-site at the
Sheraton Seattle starting Wednesday, August 25 at 3:00 p.m. Registration
for the full conference is $650, with day passes for Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday available for $245, $245, or $295 respectively. Registration is
located in the 2nd Floor Lobby of the Sheraton Seattle.
Registration
Desk Hours:
Wednesday,
8/25 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Thursday,
8/26 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday, 8/27 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday,
8/28 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
ACS
conference logo merchandise will be available at the Conference
Bookstore. Take home a piece of Cheese-a-Topia! T-shirts are $15 and zip hoodies are $38.
Roland
Barthel�my and MaryAnne Drake will be serving as Scholars-in-Residence at this
year's conference. To sign up for a spot with one of these esteemed
experts, stop by the Scholar-in-Residence table in the registration
lobby. Slots are available during the following times:
Roland
Barth�lemy, president, Guilde des Fromagers
Thursday,
8/26 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Friday, 8/27 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday,
8/29 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Dr. MaryAnne
Drake, Ph.D., professor,Southeast Dairy Foods Research Center
Thursday,
8/26 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday, 8/27 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday,
8/29 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Your conference
badge admits you to all conference sessions and events at the Sheraton Seattle
and at off-site venues. Please be sure to wear it at all times.
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Not Attending Cheese-a-Topia?
You Can Still Enjoy ACS Events in Seattle!
If you don't plan to attend the entire Cheese-a-Topia conference in Seattle, there are still opportunities for you, your friends, and your family to enjoy some of our most exciting signature events: the closing keynote by renowned author Michael Pollan, and the annual Awards Ceremony and Festival of Cheese.
Keynote by Michael Pollan: For ACS members who would
like to hear renowned author and "real food" advocate Michael Pollan give the closing keynote on Saturday, August 28, single day conference passes are available for $295. Passes include access to all meals and sessions
on Saturday, as well as the Awards Ceremony and the Festival of Cheese. To purchase a day pass, stop by the ACS Registration Desk at the Sheraton Seattle.
Awards Ceremony and Festival of Cheese: For the first time ever, individual tickets to our annual Awards Ceremony and Festival of Cheese - held on Saturday, August 28, from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM at Seattle's Benaroya Hall - are available to the general public. This year's Festival of Cheese will include samples of outstanding cheeses, delicious bites from Seattle restaurants, regional wineries and breweries, and more than 25 Festival Marketplace sponsors with artisanal products ranging from crackers, to figs, to honey. It's the perfect opportunity for friends or family to attend one of our signature events! Purchase tickets now for $85 each.
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Profiles of 2010 Merchandising Competitors
Cheese-a-Topia co-chair Sasha Davies recently asked competitors in the 2nd Annual Merchandising Competition a series of questions about their lives and work, so that ACS members can
get to know them better. Did you know that Shane Wahlund from DeLaurenti's Specialty Food & Wine was an actor before becoming a cheesemonger? Or that Nathan Aldridge from Murray's Cheese once cut eleven perfect 1/2 pound pieces of cheese in a row? Learn more interesting, and often funny, details about some of this year's competitors by clicking here.
Watch the competitors test
their merchandising, sales, wrapping, and product presentation skills
in Seattle on Thursday, August 26 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. We look forward to seeing you
there! |
 Judging & Competition: Down to the Wire
Well, you've done it again. The old record of 1,349 entries
is shattered as 223 producers (up by 26 over last year) submit for evaluation a
whopping 1,438 cheeses and dairy products. Congratulations to all for
maintaining your entrepreneurial spirit, keeping your creative juices flowing, and continuing to support ACS through times of transition.
Thirty-four US states are represented (up by two from last year) and
one more Canadian province (Oye!). We've seen increases in every single-source
milk type, and you've entered in 107 different subcategories, up 10 from last
year. Amazing.
Shipping labels and other materials have already been sent
out to entrants, as we are now one week out from our receiving dates, August 19-20. As we close in on that next deadline, we would like to share a few important points to
keep in mind regarding sending your entries. Click here for critical information about labeling, packing, and shipping your entries to Seattle.
If you have not received your shipping labels yet, please email the ACS office at [email protected] and a staff member will contact you.
Seattle has shaped up to be a wonderful conference. We on the Judging and Competition Committee are looking
forward to seeing and celebrating what you have created for 2010.
Good luck to you all. See you in
Seattle!
David Grotenstein
Judging and Competition Chair |
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National Goat Cheese Month
by Christine Hyatt
For
as long as I've worked in cheese, I have "known" August is National Goat Cheese
Month. The funny thing is, no one I
asked could tell me definitively how this came about. Even a cursory Google search returned
nothing...until page 4!
Yes,
I'm pretty relentless when I get intrigued by something. I came across a tiny snippet from a Parade
magazine insert from the Reading Eagle from July 22, 1988 announcing the month
as the brainchild of the American Cheese Society and Bongrain Cheese, a large
exporter of French cheese.
A
few e-mails to several goat cheese luminaries who have been crafting great
cheese for 25+ years yielded a bit more info, including tales of tastings for
members of Congress in D.C. in the late 80's.
At
the time, goat cheese was still a relatively unknown thing in the US. The ACS Administrator at the time, Laura
Jacobs Welch, became a point person to promote this "new" product and marketing
funds from Bongrain added exposure at retailers.
Taking
the idea to the next level, tastings were held for members of Congress in Washington, D.C.
with industry luminaries like Ricki Carroll, Judy Schad and Mary Keehn
promoting goat milk cheeses to political movers and shakers.
Hidden
gems of ACS history like this further underscore the incredible effort of so
many individuals over the last 20+ years which are the foundation of this
association and our industry.
We
are now laying a similar foundation for the next 20 years. What are we doing - or could we be doing - to
further build the foundation of cheese in the Americas? Renewed emphasis on events like Goat Cheese
Month may be in order along with, perhaps, a wider celebration of American
Cheese from all milk types. American
Cheese certainly does mean something different than it did a generation ago and
that's definitely something to celebrate!
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Connect to ACS
Stay connected to ACS no matter where you are! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (#cheesesociety or #festivalofcheese), LinkedIn, or our member networking site, CheeseWire. Get the latest updates on our annual conference, connect with fellow cheese makers, retailers and enthusiasts, and tell us what's happening in your world.
Conference attendees are encouraged to post updates about their experiences in Seattle on any of our social networking sites. We hope you'll join in the conversations, and even start some of your own! |
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