Regional Government commends LactAçores for winning prizes at the World Cheese Awards - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e do Desenvolvimento Rural

The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development commended LactAçores for the Gold medals awarded at the 35th edition of the World Cheese Awards, one of the largest international cheese events that took place in Trondheim, Norway, in October.

The São Jorge Cheese PDO aged 4 Months and the São Miguel Cheese PDO aged 9 Months were the cheeses awarded Gold medals at this international event, which this year attracted a record number of participants, with 4,502 representatives from 43 countries. The São Jorge Cheese PDO aged 12 Months won the Silver medal.

For António Ventura, "it is a source of great pride to receive these awards for the cheeses produced in the Region, demonstrating the high quality of Azorean products and, especially, the high quality of the raw material, i.e. the milk produced in the Azores."

"These awards evidence that the Azores produce high-quality products that are unique in the world, both in their intrinsic quality and in their production methods. They are the result of our know-how and of the Azores' soil, climate and geographical conditions," he emphasised.

According to the government official, "LactAçores stands out, not only for the prizes it has now won but also for other participations in fairs and events during 2023, in addition to other prizes won."

In the Portuguese Cheeses 2023 competition, also held in October, the São Jorge PDO cheeses aged 4, 7, 12 and 24 months, produced by the Union of Agricultural Dairy Cooperatives of São Jorge, UCRL, were awarded Gold medals in the long ageing category, as was the Ilha Azul Curado cheese, produced by CALF - Faial Agricultural Dairy Cooperative, CRL.

The Silver medal was awarded to the Capelinhos cheese, aged four months, in the long ageing category, and the Moledo cheese in the regular ageing category, both produced by CALF-Faial Agricultural Dairy Cooperative, CRL.

In turn, the Beira cheese, from São Jorge, won the prize for best Island Cheese, while the Famoso cheese, from São Miguel, received an Honourable Mention.

In addition to these two national and international events, LactAçores, formed by the union of the three cooperatives, Unileite, Uniqueijo and CALF, has presented its products at various regional and national events: Lisbon Food Affair; SAGAL Expo; Taste Azores Norte Shopping, organised by the Azores Brand; the Alcains Cheese Festival, in Castelo Branco; the 59th National Agriculture Fair in Santarém; the Azores Agricultural Fair, on Terceira Island; the Vila do Conde Gastronomy Fair; GE - Wines and Flavours, FIL; Wine In Azores, in São Miguel; Taste Azores, organised by the Azores Brand at Colombo Shopping Centre, among other tastings featuring chefs and wine pairing.