By Blake Jackson
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the winners of the 2024 New York State Dairy Products Competition, celebrating the state's exceptional dairy industry.
Stewart's Shops and Byrne Dairy emerged as prominent winners, securing multiple gold and silver medals in various categories.
Among the highlights:
- Stewart's Shops excelled in fluid milk, chocolate milk, and flavored milk categories.
- Dygert Farms Creamery earned silver in fluid milk.
- Byrne Dairy took first place in chocolate ice cream and the Open Class category for its Grasshopper Pie ice cream.
- Churchtown Dairy was named grand champion for its Coperthwaite cheese.
“New York State is home to some of the very best dairy products in the world, and the annual Dairy Products Competition shines a spotlight on these delicious, nutritious, locally made treats,” Governor Hochul said. “I congratulate the winners of this year’s competition and thank the thousands of dairy farmers and businesses in New York who work hard day in and day out to produce the finest quality milk, ice cream, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, and so much more. I encourage New Yorkers and people across the globe to enjoy these award-winning products and taste the best of New York State agriculture.”
The Dairy Products Competition recognizes the exceptional quality and innovation of New York's dairy producers and processors.
This year's competition featured 176 entries across 26 categories, showcasing the diversity and excellence of the state's dairy industry.
Key Highlights:
- HP Hood dominated the competition with 13 medals, including gold in cottage cheese, sour cream, and yogurt categories.
- Great Lakes Cheese won gold for "Super" Aged Cheddar and Low Moisture Mozzarella, securing eight medals overall.
- BelGioioso Cheese received gold in various categories, including mozzarella, ricotta, flavored natural cheese, and Open Class Cheese.
- Agri-Mark, Inc. earned gold for Sharp Cheddar, Aged Cheddar, and Cold Pack/Process Cheese.
- Kraft Heinz achieved a clean sweep in the Cream Cheese/Neufchatel category, winning gold, silver, and the Award of Excellence.
A panel of expert judges evaluated the cheese entries, while Cornell University's Milk Quality Improvement Program judged the fluid milk and ice cream.
The winners will be honored at a special awards ceremony during Dairy Day at the New York State Fair. A video presentation showcasing the award-winning products will be on display in the Dairy Products Building.
New York State is a major dairy producer, with over 3,000 dairy farms producing over 15 billion pounds of milk annually. The dairy industry is the state's largest agricultural sector, contributing significantly to the economy and providing jobs.
A full list of the 2024 Dairy Products Competition winners is available online.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-vm
Categories: New York, Government & Policy