World Cheese Awards 2018 to Bergen

Now we're taking the event to Bergen Being the main organizer of the World Cheese Awards 2018 is both enjoyable and not least honourable. There are very few people in Europe who think that Norway is a country of high quality food. This is therefore perhaps a greater honor than we realize, says Bernt Bucher-Johannessen, general manager of HANEN. Not only have we won one of the world's most prestigious cheese competitions through Tingvollost and Kraftkar, but now we are taking the entire event to Bergen. The Norwegian cheese revolution Only in the last 10-15 years has an enormous diversity of Norwegian cheese producers emerged. In connection with the Cheese WC, as we have chosen to call it, we have recently collected an overview of Norwegian cheese producers. It shows that there are close to seventy producers who together produce hundreds of different cheeses. Within a few years, a Norwegian cheese revolution has taken place! Solid partners Over 3,000 cheeses will be judged and more than 200 judges from home and abroad will be present during the event. In parallel, Matnasjonen Norge, a food and drink festival that runs over two days, is being organised. This is no small boost for an organization like HANEN? No, it is undoubtedly a great and honorable mission. Our task is to make it possible for the different cheeses to meet the cheese judges in a good way. We are responsible for the logistics, marketing and all the practical aspects of the event itself. The event itself is owned by the Guild of Fine Food in London. This is a very professional player who has organized the WCA for more than 30 years. Approval by judges and the various products is taken care of by them. Good spirit of service Not least our good cooperation with Norsk Gardsost over many years has made this possible. In addition, we have brought in sponsors and actors such as Innovation Norway, TINE, MENY, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Matmerk, Oluf Lorentzen and Matcompaniet. The entire value chain is involved. The Cheese WC in Bergen has become a solid volunteer job. Everywhere this is met with commitment and enthusiasm. The aim is, in short, to increase knowledge and familiarity with Norwegian cheeses, and to create food enjoyment, which in turn leads to increased sales among Norwegian cheese producers. We are already well underway with that! Our own national cheese team Registration for the World Cheese Awards starts in September, and there is a great deal of involvement among Norwegian farm cheese makers. Together with our co-organizer Norsk Gardsost, we have even created a separate cheese country team! Their first training session was held this spring, and received wide coverage in the media. Using terminology from the world of sports creates humor and helps make this the folk festival we want it to be, assures an expectant Bernt Bucher-Johannessen. Photo: Bergen Reiselivslag / Willy Haraldsen – visitBergen.com/ Girish Chouhan FACTS: CHEESE WC 2018 For the first time in history, the Word Cheese Awards (WCA) will be held in Norway. This will take place in Bergen on Friday 2 November 2018. It is HANEN in collaboration with Norsk Gardsost that is behind the prestigious event, where 230 international judges will judge more than 3,000 cheeses. The Cheese Championship is an open competition for anyone who produces cheese (no other dairy products). It is open for registration in the period 5-28. September 2018, and for those who might be wondering: One of the most Norwegian of Norwegians, brown cheese, also has the opportunity to participate. The judging will take place during the food and drink festival Matnasjonen Norge, which is an open public event 2-3. November. Read more at ostevm.no The World Cheese Awards is one of the world's largest cheese competitions, and is owned by the British foundation Guild of Fine Food. Text and photo: Trude Henrichsen