Best Cheeses in North America Crowned

The American Cheese Society (ACS) had its annual conference in Buffalo, NY this past weekend.

Part of the conference is a competition that judges and rates the best cheeses from across North America. It is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world of cheese.

Go Canada!

Of the 6,000+ entries received this year, Canada did exceptionally well. (Perhaps it’s Buffalo’s proximity to Canada?)

Two cheeses from Quebec took home the top two prizes overall.

• Best of Show First Place went to Raclette de Compton au Poivre from Quebec.
• Best of Show Second Place was awarded to Le Cousin also from Quebec.

Best Cheese in North America

Raclette de Compton au Poivre is a delicious washed-rind raclette cheese made by Simon-Pierre Bolduc at Fromagerie la Station in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. 

The win is pretty impressive for a fromagerie celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first forray into cheesemaking this year.

Raclette de Compton au Poivre the Best in Show winner at the 2024 American Cheese Society Competition.

This raw-milk, organic raclette made with cow milk has a smooth, semi-soft texture with a lovely mild flavour. It features a stunning line of red peppercorns running through the middle of each wheel lending a delicate pepper flavour without any heat.

While it’s a raclette cheese, it’s just as nice for snacking as it is for melting.

Cheesemaker Simon-Pierre Bolduc and his brother Martin of Fromagerie la Station celebrate the producer's impressive showing at the American Cheese Society competition in Buffalo, NY.

Simon-Pierre and Andrew from TOMME hang out with the cows in the pristine barns during our last visit to Fromagerie la Station.

Le Cousin

Le Cousin is made at Fromagerie Médard in the countryside near Lac Saint Jean. It is a soft cheese with a washed rind. It is an absolute delight to eat with its creamy texture and mild, buttery flavours.

Madeleine Boivin and Rose-Alice Boivin-Côté from La Fromagerie et Boulangerie Médard in Quebec show off their medals at the ACS competition in Buffalo, NY.

We've Got More Winners

Other notable category wins scored by Canadian cheeses include some of our best sellers.

• Alfred le Fermier (Fromagerie la Station, Quebec)
  1st Place, Farmstead Cheese, Aged 60 days or more, Less than 39% Moisture, Cow milk
• Blue Moo (COWS Creamery, Prince Edward Island)
  1st Place, Rindless Blue-veined, Cow milk
• Dark Side of the Moo (Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese, Ontario)
  1st Place, Open Category, Cheeses with Flavor Added, All Milks
• 5 Brothers (Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese, Ontario)
  2nd Place, Open Category, Washed Rind Cheeses, Cow Milk
• Chemin Hatley (Fromagerie la Station, Quebec)
  2nd Place, Farmstead Cheese, Aged 60 days or More, 39% or Higher Moisture, Cow Milk

Taste the Winners

Want to do a comparison tasting of some of the winners? We've put together two tantalizing bundles of Canadian cheeses that were honoured at ACS 2024.

With each bundle, you get three wedges of award-winning cheese and a 10% discount!

Check out the First Place Winners Bundle and the Notable Winners Bundle for more details.

Fun fact

Canadian entries were collected right here in town at the University of Guelph to be exported across the border to the ACS competition earlier this year.