Cheese Please
It’s been my pleasure as a freelance journalist to follow not one but two local cheesemakers in their inspiring recent achievements at national competitions.
- Kevin Gibson with his championship ribbons at the Royal Winter Fair
Kevin Gibson’s story is heartwarming and almost unbelievable. Gibson is a third-generation cheesemaker, now working with the team at Empire Cheese and Butter Company, who’s accomplished a feat never done before: earning both titles of Grand Champion and Reserve Champion at the Royal Winter Fair this November, and (as of yesterday) earning the Grand Champion title at the British Empire Cheese Show.
- Petra Cooper proudly shows her awards in the Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company
Petra Cooper’s story is simply stunning. The “second-careerist” cheesemaker and owner of Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company has been cleaning up at competitions with her handmade sheep and goats milk products. Fifth Town won the Grand Champion title at the Royal Winter Fair and yesterday nearly stole the show at the British Empire Cheese Show. All this in the company’s first year of operation.
Both of these award winners are based in Prince Edward County.
Read my full articles about Kevin Gibson and Petra Cooper in the Eastern Ontario AgriNews.
Listen for these stories as they’re broadcast on the Quinte Broadcasting group of radio stations.
