The Department of Food Science is hosting 10 cheese-making experts from across Canada this week as they judge the inaugural Canadian Cheese Awards. Department chair Art Hill, an internationally recognized authority in cheese technology, is serving as chief judge. Anita Stewart is assisting the competition in her role as U of G food laureate.

There are 290 cheeses entered in the competition, which is open to cheesemakers across the country and includes categories for all milks used in cheese-making – cow, goat, sheep and water buffalo.

The competition has been organized by The Great Canadian Cheese Festival, an artisan cheese show held each summer near Belleville, Ont.; Loblaw Companies is a major sponsor for the new cheese awards program. Finalists will be announced March 7, and winners will be revealed April 7 at a public tasting event at Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market.

In future, the awards ceremony for the biennial competition will rotate between Montréal, Vancouver and Toronto, while judging will remain at the University of Guelph.