May 23, 2002

VANCOUVER ISLAND ARTISAN CHEESE COMPANY WINS Three Category Champion CANADIAN CHEESE GRAND PRIX AWARDS

Natural Pastures Cheese Company of Courtenay, BC won three first place awards at the prestigious Canadian Cheese Grand Prix competition Wednesday night in Toronto. The competition, sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Canada, is held every two years.
The purpose of the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix is to promote excellence in the field of cheese production. To be eligible, the cheese must be made in Canada from cow's milk produced on a Canadian dairy farm.

Natural Pastures won Category Champions in the following cheese categories:

• Soft Cheese:
  with Comox Camembert
• Semi-soft Cheese:
  with Boerenkaas
• Flavoured Cheese with added particulate solids and flavouring:
  with Verdelait Cumin Seed

“We are delighted with this national recognition of our artisan cheeses,” says Edgar Smith, President of Natural Pastures Cheese Company. “This reflects the enthusiasm we’re receiving from consumers who seem to appreciate a high quality, natural product.”
Natural Pastures Cheese Company was formed in 2001 by three brothers - Edgar, Philip and Doug Smith - and businessman Rick Adams. The Smith brothers run Beaver Meadow Farms in Courtenay. It is a designated Heritage Dairy Farm, which means it meets high standards of animal husbandry, land stewardship and product quality while enhancing the natural salmon and wildlife in streams and lands. The milk used in Natural Pastures cheese
is from Beaver Meadows Farm’s 350 pasture fed cows, which graze on bio-diversified meadows.
Natural Pastures makes 11 soft and semi-hard cheeses and fresh cheese curds under the guidance of Swiss-trained cheese maker Paul Sutter.
“We are proud to offer all-natural, fresh, artisan products,” says Edgar Smith, “Not only do they taste great, but our cheeses also have nutritional benefits because the milk we use is from pasture fed cows.”
The Canadian Cheese Grand Prix recognized cheeses in 15 categories. A jury of six renowned specialists in agrifood, nutrition, the restaurant industry and gourmet food evaluated 160 cheeses according to criteria including flavour, colour, texture, body, firmness, general appearance and salt content. Natural Pastures Cheese was the only company to win three awards and only one of two to win multiple categories.
Natural Pastures cheeses are available at the Natural Pastures Cheese Company’s factory at 635 McPhee Avenue, Courtenay, at various Thrifty Food Stores, les amis du Fromage in Vancouver and farmers markets on Vancouver Island