Susan Axelrod for culture: the word on cheese
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about the author

Articles written by Susan Axelrod

Susan Sherrill Axelrod is a former editor of Culture. Her love affair with cheese began at age 12, when she bicycled to a gourmet shop to taste an exotic newcomer—French brie. She lives with her partner in midcoast Maine, where she enjoys a well-made cocktail, hiking with their dog, Lucy, and spending as much time as possible on the water.

Four beautiful farms and creameries for sale


Looking Glass Creamery | Photo: realtor.com If you’ve ever thought about owning a dairy farm and creamery, this spring might just be a good time to take a closer look. We found the following noteworthy opportunities in North Carolina, New Jersey, Maine, and Washington; you can discover more complete cheesemaking operations and equipment for sale […]

21 Cheeses Win 2023 Good Food Awards


Meet the cheeses that came out on top at the 2023 Good Food Awards.

ACS Seeks Volunteers for Annual Conference


It’s time to start getting excited about the American Cheese Society Annual Conference, aka CHEESE CAMP! Scheduled for July 18-21 in Des Moines Iowa, the 2023 conference celebrates 40 Years of Cheese. Seminars include an Artisan Cheese Food Safety Workshop; Mexican Cheese: Tales and Science; and The Complex World of Coagulants. And of course there’s […]

Is Organic Certification Worth It?


Is organic certification worth it? We asked to industry pros to give us their take on this hot topic. Follow along as we stir the curd!

U.S. Court Affirms Gruyere is Generic


On Friday, a Virginia appeals court upheld a December 9, 2022 decision of the U.S. District Court that the term “gruyere” is generic and cannot be protected with a certification mark.

What To Do About Spain’s Shepherding Crisis?


I am the owner of Caprarius Dairy and I am a cheesemaker.  We are on the island of Fuerteventura, located in the village of Pajara, in Mezque. I want to say that we make Majorero cheese with denomination of origin, and also that tending to animals isn’t a profession only for older people but also […]

Remembering Scott “Scooter” Frank


Scott and Rachel Blackman Frank with their son, Sterling Harrison Frank (photo courtesy of Rachel Blackman Frank) When Scott Frank died on December 1 at age 48 after a valiant fight against esophageal cancer, the specialty food world lost a beloved colleague, mentor, and friend. Frank spent his career in the industry; for the last […]

Regions to Watch: India


Indian cheesemakers are putting their stamp on the cheese world. Read about innovations, accomplishments, and whats to come in this burgeoning industry.

Behind the Scenes at the 2022 World Cheese Awards


The rich sound of a Welsh choir fills the corridor as my fellow judges and I file into the exhibition hall at the International Convention Center Wales for the 34th annual World Cheese Awards (WCA). Wearing our official aprons, which match the color of the huge red dragon sculpture outside the building (the red dragon […]

Centerfold: Blu di Bufala


Photographed by Nina Gallant | Styled by Kendra Smith Water buffalo are not an uncommon sight in Southern Italy, where cheesemakers turn their rich milk into mozzarella, ricotta, and other fresh cheeses. In the northern part of the country, however, they are a rarity, and it is rarer, still, to use their milk for aged […]

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