Celebrations were underway at the Green Pastures Plant in Convoy this week to mark an excellent performance at the World Cheese Awards in London. Cheeses prepared by Green Pastures took silver and bronze in the prestigious competition, which attracted almost 1500 entries from leading dairies and producers throughout the world.
The awards took place at the Speciality and Fine Food Fair show of the year for retail buyers of fine food. The manager director of Green Pastures, John Molloy, said they were ?absolutely delighted? at the result. ?This is a tremendous boost for our cheese-making operation, and adds to previous awards we?ve won at world level,? he said. You simply can?t pay for this type of recognition, and it?s a tribute to the quality of the produce, the staff and the operation we have here in Convoy.?
Green Pastures, which shares its Convoy site with milk company Natural Dairies, has been a regular winner at the World Cheese Awards in recent years. The company got silver with an organic cheese last year, and gold medals in 1999 and 2000.
The Convoy cheeses were among a handful of Irish winners across the 62 categories this year. The awards were dominated by continental and US producers.
The cheddar spread entered from Convoy was piped for gold by a cheese from South Africa, with a Bavarian smoked cheddar in third place.
The bronze medal for Convoy came for an ?organic full fat soft cheese with garlic and black pepper?, which was entered in one of the most competitive categories.
John Molloy said the awards came at a good time for the company, as they were planning to expand the cheese-making operation.
?It?s the nature of the milk business now that you have to look at ways of adding value, so the whole area of cheeses and spreads is something we?re very interested in,? he said.
?Of course, it?s a highly competitive sector, and that?s why it?s so important that we get this type of recognition at world level.?
Green Pastures entered their cheeses under their ?Yeat?s Country? brand.
John Molloy said the company is now continuing preparations to launch a range of cheese-based snacks under the brand early in the New Year.
