Judging & Competition Information 2023

The Largest cheese event of its kind took place May 15-19, 2023, ahead of 40th Annual Conference and the winners were announced at the ACS Annual Conference on July 19th.

 

The winners have been posted here!

Scores and feedback are now available to cheesemakers in the Award Force platform.

If you have any questions about entering the ACS Judging & Competition, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us. You may also find your answer(s) in the Frequently Asked Questions.

IMPORTANT DATES

  • January 15 – March 3, 2023: Call For Entries
    • Jan 15 – Feb 24 (early bird)
    • Feb 25 – Mar 3 (regular)
  • Competition 2023:
    • Receiving: May 15-17, 2023

Competition: May 18-19, 2023

The American Cheese Society Judging and Competition, the largest event of its kind for American-made cheeses, took place May 15-19, 2023, at the Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus. Canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the Judging and Competition (J&C) is now held separately from the Annual Conference, with the Award Ceremony being held during the Conference. You can view previous winners here.

The ACS Competition shines the spotlight on American cheesemakers by showcasing their talents and work as leaders within the industry, both for their excellent cheesemaking and commitment to food safety. Growing from just 89 entries 37 years ago, the ACS J&C welcomed cheeses and cultured dairy products from 257 companies in 2019, when it was last held in Richmond, Virginia. Competing entries represented 35 U.S. states, 4 Canadian provinces, Mexico, and Brazil. The ACS awarded a total of 433 awards including 139 gold medals, 143 silver medals and 151 bronze medals. The 2022 event received nearly 1400 entries in 120 categories and awarded over 360 medals. The 2023 event received 1,454 entries in 120 categories and awarded 370 medals.

By hosting the Judging & Competition, ACS hopes to shine the spotlight on American cheesemakers by showcasing their talents and work as leaders within the industry, both for their excellent cheesemaking and commitment to food safety. ACS celebrates and respects the craft of every cheesemaker who enters the ACS Judging & Competition. It is the ACS members’ efforts that continue to collectively advance the quality and character of American cheeses.

Note: only ACS organizational members are eligible to submit their cheese into the competition. You can read more and join ACS here.

The 2023 Judging & Competition Information Can Be Found Below

View Award Force Entry Platform

COST

The competition is only available to corporate members of ACS.

      • January 15th – February 24th: $75/entry
      • February 25th – March 3rd: $100/entry
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