Swainsboro, Georgia (August 11, 2009) – It was only the second year Georgia dairy Flat Creek Lodge competed at the American Cheese Society’s Judging & Competition at the organization’s annual conference, but this small dairy won big, bringing seven ribbons back to Swainsboro. This year, Flat Creek Lodge earned one First Place for its Dutch-style Leiden, two Second Place and four Third Place awards. In a competition with 1,327 cheeses and cultured dairy products entered from 197 producers in 32 states, Canada and Mexico, the Flat Creek Dairy team is thrilled with the results.

“We are very honored to have been recognized for so many of our cheeses,” said Flat Creek’s Head Cheesemaker Dane Huebner. “For our sheep’s milk cheeses especially, which we have only been producing for about six months, these ribbons are extremely significant. We entered only nine cheeses, and seven of them won. I’m pretty happy with that!” Last year at this prestigious competition, Flat Creek won one First Place award for its Caraway Cotija.

In addition to the First Place cumin-flavored Leiden, which won in the Open Category for All Cheeses with Flavorings Added, the Cypress Cheddar earned a Third Place in the tough category Cheddars Wrapped in Cloth. Five other winners came from Flat Creek’s new line of cow and sheep’s milk blended cheeses – Second Place awards went to ColBaa with Black Truffle and Agrippina Feta. Half Ewe Blue Farmhouse, ColBaa (plain) and ColBaa with Scallion and Ginger each won a Third Place award. Out of 314 total awards given, most of the ribbons went to Wisconsin, California and Vermont, so Flat Creek Lodge’s seven ribbons bring honor to Georgia too.

The award-winning Flat Creek Lodge cheeses are available at retails spots including: Alon’s, Harry’s, Savor, Sawicki’s, Star Provisions, The Mercantile and several Whole Foods locations in Atlanta. Restaurants like Neo and Dynamic Dish serve Flat Creek Lodge cheeses. In fact, they can even be found at the Governor’s Mansion. In the Savannah area, Flat Creek Lodge cheeses can be found at Alligator Soul, Brighter Day Health Food Market, Cha Bella, Davis Produce, Il Pasticcio, Savannah Bee Co., The Mansion on Forsyth and Thrive to Go. Other southeast Georgia locations include Jekyll Island Club Hotel (Jekyll Island) and True Vine Wine & Gourmet (Brunswick). Murray’s in New York carries Flat Creek Lodge cheese to. Of course, everything is also available online at www.flatcreeklodge.com.

About the American Cheese Society
The American Cheese Society is an active, not for profit, trade organization that encourages the understanding, appreciation and promotion of farmstead and natural specialty cheeses produced in North America. By providing an educational forum for cheesemakers and cheese enthusiasts, the Society fills an important gap in today’s specialty food world. Some ACS members come from small farmstead cheesemakers but they can also be industrial producers, wholesalers, distributors, retail shops, cheese media and cheese enthusiasts. The conference—a gathering of cheesemakers, academicians, enthusiasts, marketers, distributors, food writers and retailers from the U.S., Canada and Europe—celebrates the widespread enthusiasm for American specialty cheese. More than 700 attended this year’s conference, participating in educational seminars on subjects from cheesemaking to the art of maturing cheese.

The American Cheese Society is the country’s premier platform for cheese industry research and education. Founded in 1983, the ACS has grown to include approximately 1,250 members. Among its many endeavors, the Society works with the federal government on issues related to standards for the production of cheese and fermented dairy products. www.cheesesociety.org.

Each year, the ACS hosts the conference and world-renowned cheese competition. Unlike other cheese competitions where cheeses are graded down for technical defects, the American Cheese Society’s goal is to give positive recognition to those cheese that are of the highest quality in the aesthetic evaluation (i.e. flavor, aroma and texture), as well as their technical evaluation. As a result, the highest quality cheeses are those that the Society feels deserve the recognition of an American Cheese Society award, based on a minimum number of points awarded (totally 100 points possible) for First, Second or Third Place. In categories or sub-categories where the minimum number of points is not earned, no award was given for that category or sub-category.

Located just three hours southeast of Atlanta, the Flat Creek Lodge resort offers an oasis to guests who enjoy being pampered with beautiful scenery, gourmet meals and luxurious surroundings. With a plethora of activities available onsite like bike riding through nature trails, visiting the spa, dining, fishing and even various types of hunting, the exquisite property entices all travelers. Flat Creek Lodge also creates an award-winning line of artisanal cow and sheep’s milk cheeses that appeal to the most discerning palate. The 2,000-acre Flat Creek Lodge is located at 367 Bishop Chapel Church Road, Swainsboro, Georgia 30401. The Lodge can be reached at 478.237.FISH or 877.352.8273. It can also be visited online at www.flatcreeklodge.com.