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Member and Events Code of Conduct

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General Applicability This professional Code of Conduct (Code) outlines ACS’s expectations for all ACS members, volunteers, attendees, vendors, partners, officers, and event participants (jointly “Members and Participants”) as adopted by the ACS Board of Directors. Abiding by this Code is … Continue reading →

ACS 2023 Annual Conference Registration

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Registration options include full registration, single day passes, guest tickets, and special event tickets. For media credentials and press passes, please contact Endsley Eggert, Marketing Manager. Register as an Individual here. Register as a Group here. Group Registration If you … Continue reading →

Programming

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Programming is central to ACS’s Mission & Values of providing educational resources and networking opportunities to individuals and organizations within the cheese industry. ACS accomplishes this by offering various types of programming geared towards members of the cheese industry. We … Continue reading →

Domain 11: Business Principles and Practices

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Research A. Industry statistics B. Market research Accounting and finance A. Chart of accounts B. Costing strategy C. Reporting and profitability Human resources A. Insurance B. Wages and benefits C. Management D. Hiring practices E. Employees F. Training Marketing A. … Continue reading →

Domain 10: Service

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Types of cheese service A. Distribution B. Retail / wholesale C. Catering D. Restaurant Customer service A. Role of cheese professional B. Customer care Tastings and Pairings A. Composition B. Cooking with cheese C. Cheese boards

Domain 9: Inventory Management

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Sourcing (inventory selection) A. Considerations B. Supplier programs Receiving A. Receiving protocols B. Unloading cheese Inventory management A. Ordering B. Rotation C. Controlling loss Storage & shelf life guidelines A. Product lifecycle B. Date marking and labeling C. Requirements for … Continue reading →

Domain 8: Selling and Transporting

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Selecting sales outlets A. Choosing sales routes B. Selecting distributors/retailers C. Working with distributors/retailers Selling cheese A. Chain of custody B. Recordkeeping C. Format Procuring A. Supply chain and sales channels Packing A. Cheese preparation B. Wrapping cheese C. Documentation … Continue reading →

Domain 7: Assessment and Evaluation

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Sensory Evaluation A. Grading systems/ schedules B. Preparation C. Evaluation environment Points of Evaluation A. Quality assurance and analysis B. Defining cheese profiles C. During ripening D. Upon receipt E. Before selling or serving F. Competitions and judging Communicating assessments … Continue reading →

Domain 6: Ripening

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Science of cheese ripening A. Chemistry B. Microbiology Ripening parameters A. Climatic requirements B. Adjusting care based on unique batch parameters Ripening process A. Rind development B. Managing rind flora

Domain 5: Cheesemaking

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Science of cheesemaking A. Microbiology B. Chemistry Ingredients A. Milk treatment B. Primary ingredients C. Optional ingredients Cheesemaking process A. Pre-ripening B. Milk ripening C. Coagulation D. Cutting or breaking curd E. Intermediate steps F. Salting G. Concentrating curd solids … Continue reading →

Domain 4: Milk

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Science of milk A. Microbiology B. Milk quality tests Milk composition and yields A. Milk components B. Intrinsic properties that affect composition and yield C. Extrinsic properties that affect composition and yield Milk source A. On farm production B. Purchased … Continue reading →

Domain 2: Operations

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Facilities A. Sanitary design B. Zones C. Climate controlled environments D. Milk processing and storage facilities E. Cheesemaking facilities F. Cheese ripening environments and aging facilities G. Packing rooms H. Finished product storage, preparation, and sale Equipment and utensils A. … Continue reading →

Domain 1: Health, Regulations, Food Safety

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Health A. Health benefits B. Health concerns Regulations governing cheese industry procedures A. Regulatory bodies B. Registration and licensing C. Milk D. Import/export E. Product labeling and dating F. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) G,. Inspections, investigations, and targeted sampling Food … Continue reading →

Ambassador Program

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The ACS Ambassador program is designed for ACS members who would like to volunteer their time to help raise awareness about ACS’s work and offerings, and recruit industry members to grow the ACS membership ranks. ACS Ambassadors often represent ACS … Continue reading →

Committees and Advisory Panels

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The American Cheese Society is a network of volunteer leaders who provide resources in services of our members. We’re glad for your interest in joining our committees! We will be reopening applications for our committees after the ACS 2024 Conference. … Continue reading →

Newsletter Archive

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This digital collection of newsletters spans the different iterations of the American Cheese Society’s member newsletter. Spanning from 1990 to the present, these newsletters serve as the main communication tool between the organization and our members. This archive encompasses our … Continue reading →

Enter the ACS Judging & Competition 2018

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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. Entry Instructions Welcome to the ACS Judging & Competition Online Entry … Continue reading →

Judging & Competition FAQs

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How are entries judged? Judges work in teams of two: one Technical and one Aesthetic. Technical Judges deduct points for flaws and defects from a perfect score of 50; Aesthetic Judges award points for outstanding characteristics and qualities to a … Continue reading →

Judging & Competition Deadlines and Fees

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Entry Deadlines and Fees   Entry fees include permission for winners to use the high-resolution digital ACS Winner logo. The logo will be sent to winners shortly after the Judging & Competition. Please note that no refunds will be given after the … Continue reading →

Advocacy & Engagement Timeline

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Ongoing: ACS engages with FDA on a regular basis via in-person meetings and phone calls to ensure open lines of communication and to build understanding of our industry. 2-12-2021: ACS Submits Comments to FDA on the Proposed Rule for Food … Continue reading →

Industry Data

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The American artisan, farmstead, and specialty cheese industry has been growing for decades, with more producers venturing into cheesemaking to meet growing consumer demand for unique, local, natural cheeses made using traditional methods. State of the U.S. Artisan/Specialty Cheese Industry … Continue reading →

Membership Benefits

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Membership with the American Cheese Society provides access to targeted benefits, resources, tools, and discounts. Review the member benefits chart below to explore ACS Membership Levels and associated benefits. Find the ACS Membership Level that works for you, and learn … Continue reading →

ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF CHEESE MAKING

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This five-day training is a practical and comprehensive technical guide to cheese technology and the principles governing the quality of cheese. With the special collaboration of Linda Dimmick owner and cheesemaker of Neighborly Farms. During this intensive, participants will learn … Continue reading →

ARTISANAL CHEESEMAKING MAKING: THE VERMONT EXPERIENCE

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This comprehensive 3-days cheesemaking course provides participants with the fundamental knowledge and skills to unveil the art and sciences of artisanal cheesemaking, all in the heart of beautiful Vermont. During this program students will learn the fundamental information and grasp … Continue reading →

CHEESE SENSORY EVALUATION

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This intensive one-day workshop provides the technical tools to understand and define the sensory quality of cheese, offering comprehensive and practical information extremely useful for a while range of cheese and food professionals. The course, offered by cheese technologist, cheese … Continue reading →

ACS T.A.S.T.E. TEST® – How to Apply

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Step-by-Step Summary of CCSE T.A.S.T.E. Test® Application Process   Review the dates, deadlines, and fees for the CCSE T.A.S.T.E. Test®. Review the eligibility criteria for the CCSE T.A.S.T.E. Test®. Please note that a High School Diploma or GED is no longer … Continue reading →

Deadlines and Fees for ACS Certification Tests

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The application period for 2021 ACS Certified Cheese Professional Exam is now closed. Important Deadlines for the ACS Certification Programs February 24 – April 30: Application period March 1: Deadline for recertification for the 2014 and 2017 classes of CCPs. … Continue reading →

Recertification

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ACS Certified Cheese Professionals® and ACS Certified Cheese Sensory Evaluators® are required to renew their certification with ACS every three years by demonstrating continued professional development in the cheese industry. After the three-year period, candidates must submit evidence of continuing … Continue reading →

Judging Process

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Judge Selection The ACS Judging & Competition, a blind competition, strives to achieve the highest level of integrity. Each year, the J&C Committee works diligently to identify and select judges who possess the utmost levels of expertise, ethics, and reliability. ACS … Continue reading →

ACS Judging & Competition Cheese Entry Categories

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Click Here to Download the Full List of 2024 Categories   A. FRESH UNRIPENED CHEESES Cheese Curds, Cottage Cheese, Cream Cheese, Fromage Blanc, Fromage Frais, Impastata, Mascarpone, Quark, Ricotta. Excluded: Cheeses with any added flavor (Refer to Category KA), Queso … Continue reading →

Judging & Competition- About

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The American Cheese Society Judging & Competition, a technical and aesthetic evaluation of American-made cheeses, takes place in June each year. The winners are then announced and celebrated at the Awards Ceremony held during the ACS Annual Conference. By hosting … Continue reading →

Judging & Competition Winners

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    Competition Winner Archive This collection spans the years 1989-2022. Currently, the years 2000-2019 and 2022 are digitized.     2023 Winners (2023 Entrants) 2022 Winners 2019 Winners 2018 Winners 2017 Winners 2016 Winners 2015 Winners 2014 Winners 2013 … Continue reading →

Conference Educational Sessions

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The American Cheese Society maintains an archive of ACS Conference Presentations. Each year, after the ACS Annual Conference, the presentations are made available to members here. Our collection of presentations dates back to 2010. Currently, the years 2013-Present are available … Continue reading →

Volunteer

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Volunteers are the heart of ACS. As an active non-profit membership organization, our organization relies on and values the support of our volunteer leaders who share their passion, knowledge, time, and talents to advance the association and the wider cheese … Continue reading →

ACS Webinar Series

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ACS offers online education for our membership at no cost throughout the year in the form of educational webinars. In addition to these webinars, you can also find online training at the Safe Cheesemaking Hub. Upcoming webinars can be found … Continue reading →

Member Directory

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The searchable American Cheese Society Member Directory is a benefit of ACS membership. Only current members may be included in the Directory, and only current members have access to search the Directory. If you do not want to be included … Continue reading →

Science and Art of Cheesemaking Short Course

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Farmstead and artisan dairy processors and others interested in cheese that take this course will gain knowledge of the materials and processes used to make specialty cheese and learn techniques to improve their business. This 4-day course begins with a … Continue reading →

Pasteurizer Operators Workshop

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Participants in this three day course will gain knowledge on the operational and regulatory procedures used for pasteurization, with an emphasis on milk. The course begins with a focus on the composition and microbiology of milk to set the stage … Continue reading →

HACCP Plan Development for Food Processors

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Discover the basic concepts of HACCP and how to develop a plan for your company This three-day workshop will take you through the steps for writing and implementing an intelligent and effective HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) plan. Because … Continue reading →

Membership FAQs

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What’s the distinction between being an INDIVIDUAL and an ORGANIZATIONAL member of ACS? Individual Membership is designed for industry professionals who seek educational opportunities, networking, online resources, and professional development opportunities for personal growth and career advancement. An Individual Membership … Continue reading →

American Cheese Society Resources

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The American Cheese Society is dedicated to providing its members, industry professionals, and cheese enthusiasts with educational resources. Whether you are seeking information about best practices in cheesemaking, hoping to get a better understanding of the terms used in the … Continue reading →