France in shock over U.S. cheese winning "Best in the World" honor

Nov 05, 2019

By Mark O'Keefe

Judges at the World Cheese Awards put only one French cheese in the top 15, a national disgrace one leading newspaper calls a "sacrilege."

Based on a review of global food media coverage, the world is having a difficult time coping with the fact that a cheese from the United States has been bestowed the coveted title of "Best" on the planet.

The news broke October 22, when The World Cheese Awards, held in Bergamo, Italy, named Rogue River Blue -- made by Rogue River Creamery in Central Point, Oregon -- "Best in the World."

It placed No. 1 from a field of 3,804 cheese entries from 42 countries.

It was the first time a cheese from the United States won the coveted top award at the contest some refer to as the "Oscars of Cheese."

Pain and dismay in France

Nowhere has the disbelief been greater than in France.

Sky News reporter Russell Hope summarized the situation in a news article:

"French national pride is on the floor after the country's famous cheeses were snubbed at an international awards ceremony. To make matters worse, a British cheese finished higher in the rankings at the World Cheese Awards, while a US product took the top prize."

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Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

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