| The ACS Online Newsletter |
December 2008 |
 Dear ACS Member,
This is the premier issue of the American Cheese Society online newsletter, Cheese Wire! ACS wants you, our members, to be more involved in spreading the word about artisanal and farmstead cheese making. We want to hear what's going on with you! So please submit your stories, comments, and announcements by the 20th of every month to see your material in the next newsletter. We are looking forward to this new venture as we bring you the most up to date and interesting news straight from the Cheese Wire!
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 A Serious Blow to Vermont Cheesemaking
ACS Member Tom Gilbert has recently been ousted by the State of Vermont after they abruptly terminated his lease at the Calvin Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth Notch. Gilbert and his company, Frog City Cheese, have until the end of December to vacate the property. According to the Rutland Herald, Gilbert would like to draw more attention to the situation in hopes that action will be taken to reverse this decision. Read the full article here.
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 2009 Conference!!
And now, a message from your conference co-chairs:
Hi ACS Members!
We are excited to report that the conference has positive momentum going into 2009.
All committee chairs are in place and the program is in final stages of review. Sponsorship is in full swing with 3 sponsors donating over $30k each. There are many new sponsorship opportunities - so please get involved to help make this conference the most dynamic! There are many new sponsorship opportunities - so please get involved to help make this conference the most dynamic! We have added the Cheesemaker Day back into the mix of educational opportunities for the membership and feel that we can present topics in depth that will contribute to a better understanding of the cheesemaker's business and technical cheese knowledge. This will take place on Wednesday. We have great sessions planned for all cheesemongers - inclusive of distributors, retailers, mass markets, food service professionals and e-traders. We are thrilled to be in Austin. The weather will be warm and the topics will be hot! Austin is the live music capital of the world, home to the largest bat colony in North America, the University of Texas Longhorns and for the first time ever the host of the American Cheese Society Conference.
Our goal is to execute a great program and meet the financial expectations of the organization. We appreciate all of the suggestions and support that we have been given to date and will be reaching out to all of you over the next few months to assist with the execution of this event.
Look for updates on the ACS site and blogs.
Go Cheese!
Jodie and Cathy
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 Cato Corner now protected by Connecticut Farmland Trust
Mother and son cheesemaking team Liz MacAlister and Mark Gillman have recently been added to the Connecticut Farmland Trust. The conservation easement protects the land and allows the farm to flourish. Cato Corner Farm has been in the MacAlister family since 1979. Click here for full story.
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 Recession?
What Recession!
The National Agriculture Statistics Service has release some interesting news this month. Wisconsin made 4.9% more cheese in October than it did a year ago. That increase was almost 2.5 times the national jump of 2%. Keep up the good work, Wisconsin cheesemakers! Here's the full story!
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Cheese @ Fancy Food Show
ACS member companies have filled the ACS Pavilion at the Winter Fancy Food Show for the second year in a row. Exhibiting in the Pavilion at the January show in San Francisco are:
Cypress Grove
Faribault Dairy
Grafton Village
Meyenberg Goat Milk
Mozzarella Company
Mt. Vikos
Redwood Hill Farm
Rogue Creamery
Roth Kase
Sartori Foods
Tillamook Cheese
Tumalo Farms
Vermont Butter and Cheese
"Our ACS aisle seemed to always have good traffic. Part of the draw was having so many great cheeses in one area" said returning exhibitor, Jeff Jirik of Faribault Dairy. |
 Just for Fun!
Random cheese fact: By law, Stilton cheese can only be made in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottingham counties in the United Kingdom.
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2009 Directory
Our 2009 Memberhsip Directory will be mailed in January. What a great tool to promote communication between our members!
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Member Forums
We've recently launched Member Forums on our website. We believe that these forums are integral to the development and promotion of artisanal and farmstead cheesemaking. By contributing your knowledge and opinions, you can "mold" the shape of the cheesemaking industry. Login now and get involved in the dialogue.
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Sponsorship!
Our 2009 Sponsorship Brrohure has hit your mailbox. Check out all of the opportunites to support ACS and showcase your company!
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Conference 2009
Get ready for the ACS 26th Annual Conference at the Hilton Austin in Austin, Texas! You won't want to miss this event, which promises to be even better than last year. Mark your calendars for August 5-8, 2009. You've just got to be there!
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Holiday Closings
National Headquarters will be closed on the following days to celebrate the holidays with family and friends:
Thursday,
December 25, 2008
Friday,
December 26, 2008
Thursday,
January 1. 2009
Friday,
January 2, 2009
Voicemails and emails will be returned upon our return.
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| Until Next Time! |
| Thank you for reading our very first online newsletter. Remember to submit your stories so that all ACS members can be in the know! |
| Submission Information |
| Please send your articles to acs@hqtrs.com. If your article is linked to a webpage, please include a link to the website. We reserve the right to edit your story for space and content. All submissions must be received by 5pm EST on the 20th of each month. |
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