March 18, 2004

COMOX CAMEMBERT FOURTH IN THE WORLD

Vancouver Island Cheese Company Find's Its Place In The World Of Cheese.

TODAY: the 25th Bi-Annual World Championship Cheese Contest, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, judged the Natural Pastures Cheese Companies' "Comox Camembert" 4th best in the world.

With some 1200 entries from around the globe, this years World Championship is the largest international cheese competition in the world. This 4th place finish puts the small cheese company from Courtenay, BC on the cheese map of the cheese world.

Previously judged as the Gold Medal Soft Cheese in the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix, Comox Camembert has now brought the attention of cheese lovers to this unique Vancouver Island Company. Natural Pastures Cheese Company is now recognized as a world class producer of Artisan Specialty Cheese.

Swiss Master Cheese Maker, Paul Sutter exclaims, "We are thrilled to place 4th in the world ahead of camembert made in USA, Australia, France, Denmark and other Canadian Producers." He attributes his success due to his application of traditional cheese making skills and the pure, rich milk produced from Beaver Meadow Farms of the Comox Valley.

Beaver Meadow Farms is a Certified Heritage Dairy farm, whose pristine pastures have been owned and operated by the Smith family for three generations here on Vancouver Island.

"We take pride in promoting and operating our environmental and sustainable farming practices and seeing our farm reflected in the production of world class cheese" exclaims Edgar Smith president of Natural Pastures Cheese Company. "We have a staff who are dedicated to creating the very best artisan cheese possible. The positive response to our cheese by our customers is a reflection of our heritage farming and traditional cheese making approach" said Smith.

Natural Pastures Cheeses are available at many B.C. retail outlets and the company's factory at 635 McPhee Ave, Courtenay, B.C.