The Comté Cheese Association is thrilled to announce its fourth annual Comté Scholarship for American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professionals™ (ACS CCP™s)! This special scholarship opportunity, open to all cheese experts who have passed the Certified Cheese Professional™ Exam, gives CCPs the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the Comté region of France to learn first-hand about the cheese’s history and production, as well as to explore the Comté region and its culture.
To apply, ACS CCP™s must submit an entry form with a short essay by October 12th, 2015. This year’s essay question asks applicants what they would hope to discover if they were to visit the Comté region, as well as how it would benefit their position within the cheese industry. The Scholarship Entry Form and Rules and Regulations can be downloaded here. Past winners of the Comté Scholarship for ACS CCPs include Lisa Futterman, Cheesemonger at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine; Amanda Parker, Director of Program Development for Murray’s Cheese; and, most recently, Leslie Uhl, Cheesemonger at Di Bruno Brothers. Uhl states of her May 2015 visit to the region:
My trip to the Jura region was, in a word, unforgettable. Standing toe to toe with the farmers, the cheesemakers, the affineurs, and even the cows responsible for the production of Comté was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to understand and appreciate the traditional methods of cheesemaking in that beautiful region. The word “terroir” will always take me back to the grass-covered mountains and idyllic villages of Franche-Comté, with the taste of cheese lingering on my tongue.
The essays will be judged anonymously on the basis of knowledge and creativity by a panel of three judges, who will select the winner. The judges include: Peggy Smith,Board President of the American Cheese Society and Co-Founder of Cowgirl Creamery;Cathy Strange, Global Cheese Buyer of Whole Foods Market; and Max McCalman,Maître Fromager, Author, Speaker, Consultant and Educator.
The Comté Cheese Association (CIGC ) represents all those who are involved in the production of Comté—dairy farmers, cheese-makers, affineurs—and carries out activities in all fields of interest to the trade, including research and technical issues, economics, information and communications, marketing, law and promotion of the Comté appellation, defense of local traditions and protection of the environment.
The Certified Cheese Professional™ Exam was established by the American Cheese Society to encourage high standards of comprehensive cheese knowledge and service for professionals in all areas of the cheese world. The exam is based on the knowledge and skills required to successfully perform cheese-related tasks in jobs across the board. The first Exam was administered in 2012.
