Meet the Cheesemaker

Meet the Cheesemaker takes place during the ACS Annual Conference. The event enables producers of cheese and cultured dairy products to meet with and sample products to hundreds of key industry distributors, retailers, buyers, and food writers from throughout North America.

REGISTRATION CLOSED. Please reach out to [email protected] for any questions.

Date and Time of Meet The Cheesemaker

Thursday, July 20
11:00 am – 2:30 pm: Meet the Cheesemaker Load In
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Retailer and Distributor Preview
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Open to all Attendees
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Meet the Cheesemaker Load Out

Shipping to Meet the Cheesemaker

Shipping to the Iowa Event Center – all shipping information can be found on the Shipping to the ACS Conference page.

Hand Delivering to the Iowa Event Center Prior to Meet the Cheesemaker on Thursday, July 20 

RECEIVING DAY SCHEDULE

  • Shipments from Common, Private Carriers will be accepted between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on July 17th and July 18th at an open Hy-Vee Hall loading bay, #s 2-5, accessible from 5th St. and Center. These will all be received by Fern Expo.
  • Hand Deliveries will be accepted between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on July 17th and July 18th at an open Hy-Vee Hall loading bay, #s 2-5, accessible from 5th St. and Center. This is an active loading and unloading zone only, no parking. You can relocate your vehicle to the Far North Lot located north of Veterans Auditorium. Ask for the ACS Receiving Manager to check your product in upon your arrival.  A hand delivery is defined by anything that can be delivered by hand carrying or the use of a personal dolly to go to show floor.  If a shipment needs a larger flat cart, forklift, pallet jack, or a loading dock to be delivered, it needs to be checked in by Fern Expo.

Meet the Cheesemaker participants are responsible for costs associated with shipping and material handling if items are not hand delivered. If a delivery is in need of dock space, a fork lift, or larger than a personal dolly, material handling services will be required.

Exhibiting at Meet the Cheesemaker

In order to reserve a table at Meet the Cheesemaker, you must be an American Organizational Member of ACS who is eligible to enter our Judging & Competition. Table reservations for Meet the Cheesemaker are separate from your ACS Conference registration and must be processed using your Organizational Membership credentials. Space is limited, and reservations are open until all tables are filled.

Meet the Cheesemaker registration includes:

  • 2 staff
  • 1 skirted table, 2 chairs

Register for Meet the Cheesemaker here.

Meet the Cheesemaker Table FeesRateStart DateEnd Date
Value$250March 8March 20
Early$275March 21June 26
Regular$325June 27July 7

Attending Meet the Cheesemaker

Admission is open to all ACS Conference registrants (full registrants and Thursday Day Pass holders).

If you are a registrant and would like to purchase additional passes, guest passes may be purchased during the Conference registration process, or by contacting the ACS office.

Marketplace Sponsors at Meet the Cheesemaker

Sponsors have the opportunity to add a non-cheese product table with sampling at Meet the Cheesemaker for $1,500. To participate you must be an Organizational Member of ACS.

Meet the Cheesemaker Marketplace Sponsor registration includes:

  • 2 Staff
  • 1 Networking Passes (for use by one staff attending Meet the Cheesemaker)
  • 1 skirted table, 2 chairs

Register as a Marketplace Sponsor here. Space is limited.

For sampling of beer, wine, cider or liquor, the Iowa Events Center does not require the vendor to submit an Alcohol Authorization Request form or COI.

Sampling sizes:

  • Beverages limited to maximum 3 oz. container (Alcoholic Beverages limited to 1 oz.)
  • Food items limited to “bite size” or 1 oz.

REGISTRATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Cancellations
Cancellation requests are accepted for Meet the Cheesemaker and Marketplace sponsors and must be submitted in writing. Registrations are refundable up to three (3) weeks prior to the first day of Conference less a $75 administrative processing fee. Refunds will be processed within two (2) weeks of approval of cancellation request to the original method of payment. After June 27th, registrations are NOT refundable.

MEET THE CHEESEMAKER PARTICIPANTS

Alemar CheeseMNFox River DairyMOPoint Reyes FarmsteadCA
Alpinage CheeseWIFrisian Farms CheeseIAPrairie FarmsIA
Baetje FarmsMOFromagerie BergeronQCPrairie Fruits Farm & CreameryIL
BALFOUR FARM LLCMEGoat Rodeo Farm & DairyPAReal California MilkCA
Beecher's Handmade CheeseWAGreen Dirt Farm, LLCMORedhead CreameryMN
Beehive Cheese CompanyUTGrison Dairy & CreameryMORogue CreameryOR
BelGioioso Cheese Inc.WIIdyll Farms LLCMISach FoodsCA
Belle Chevre / ChevooALJacobs and Brichford Farmstead CheeseINSavencia Cheese USAPA
Bellwether FarmsCAJason Wiebe DairyKSSequatchie Cove CreameryTN
Blakesville CreameryWIKalona Organics LLCIAShadow Brook Farm and Dutch Girl CreameryNE
Boxcarr Handmade CheeseNCKlondike Cheese CoWIShelburne FarmsVT
BUf CreameryVALaClare CreameryWIShepherd's Way FarmsMN
Cabot Creamery CooperativeVTLactalis American GroupNYSierra Nevada CheeseCA
Capriole, IncINLandmark CreameryWISpring Brook Farm CheeseVT
Cato Corner FarmCTLaura ChenelCASweet Grass DairyGA
Cellars as Jasper HillVTMarieke GoudaWIThe Grey Barn and FarmMA
Central Coast CreameryCAMarin French Cheese Co.CAThe Mystic Cheese CompanyCT
Cheese of WisconsinWIMilton CreameryIATulip Tree CreameryIN
Cowgirl CreameryCAMouCo Cheese CompanyCOUplands CheeseWI
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese LLCWIMozzarella CompanyTXUrban Stead CheeseOH
Cypress GroveCANettle MeadowNYVermont CreameryVT
Deer Creek CheeseWIOld Chatham CreameryNYVermont Farmstead Cheese Co.VT
Di Stefano CheeseCAOregon Cheese GuildORVillage CheeseworksVA
Ellsworth Cooperative CreameryWIPerrystead DairyPAWidmer's Cheese Cellars, Inc.WI
Face Rock CreameryORPine River Pre Pack, IncWIWisconsin Aging and Grading CheeseWI
FireFly Farms Inc.MDPleasant Lane Farms CreameryPA
Four Fat FowlNYPlymouth CheeseVT

MARKETPLACE SPONSORS

Alexian Pate & Specialty MeatsFortune Fish & GourmetScharffen Berger Chocolate Maker
B's Gourmet NutsInés RosalesSmoking Goose
Calanna Specialty FoodsJanet's Finest CompotesSunday Night Foods
Creminelli Fine MeatsLa PanzanellaThree Little Pigs
Effie's HomemadeOlympia ProvisionsWilson's Orchard & Farm
Fine Food Holdings - Olina's BakehouseRaincoast Crisps
Fortune FavorsRustic Bakery