The Academy of Cheese is calling for cheesemongers to enter the 2022 Young Cheesemonger of the Year competition. The award will be hosted at the World Cheese Awards (WCA), organized by the Guild of Fine Food in Newport, Wales on Nov. 2, 2022. The competition is free to enter and open to any cheesemonger under the age of 30. Finalists will be invited to attend the WCA and compete against their peers across four rounds. The winner of the award will be announced on the same day at the WCAs. Entries close Sept. 9, 2022. Click here to enter.

• A French scientist has admitted that the image of a distant star taken by the James Webb Space Telescope he tweeted was actually a photo of a slice of chorizo.
• In response to the rise in “lab-based dairy,” Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, has authored an opinion piece urging the FDA to act on establishing clear dairy-labeling guidelines.
• Thanks to a Nashville mom on TikTok, the latest in charcuterie serving trends is the “snacklebox.”
• VegNews offers a vegan cheese guide under the provocative headline: 15 Vegan Cheese Brands Doing Dairy Better Than Dairy. Can you even “do” dairy without dairy?
• Nationalgeographic.co.uk profiles Jessica Fernandez and Georgina Yescas, of Lactography in Mexico City. Founded by Georgina’s brother, Carlos Yescas, in 2012, the cheese shop is now run primarily by the women, who “travel Mexico looking for artisan producers and currently buy cheese from 55 farmsteads across 10 states,” according to the story. Read more here.
• We all know grandma makes the best mac and cheese, but when you’re in a pinch, it’s good to know the next best option. Luckily, Cleveland.com is here to help. They did the hard work of tasting and ranking 10 different fast-food mac and cheeses. Popeye’s and Arby’s have the top spots on the list. Read the rankings here.
• A new study published by the British Medical Journal has found that Jarlsberg can improve bone health without raising cholesterol. The small study randomly assigned participants to eat either 50g of Jarlsberg, or 50g of Camembert daily for 6 weeks. Read more here.
• Have you ever heard of Fol Epi? The unusual French cheese, which resembles a loaf of bread and features a wheat design on the rind, is the subject of an Instagram reel by culture contributor Kristine Jannuzzi (@nyccheesechick), which has now surpassed more than 9 million views. Jannuzzi encountered Fol Epi for the first time as a judge at the Cincho Cheese Awards in late June. 
• Six varieties of Vitalite plant-based cheeses made by Saputo will soon be available at retailers nationwide. 
• Northeastern dairy farmers have filed a class-action lawsuit against Dairy Farmers of America, which claims that the largest US dairy co-op has violated federal antitrust rules.
• The 2022 World Cheese Awards are now open for entries.
• The global vegan cheese market was valued at $2.43 billion in 2021, and it only seems to be trending up with Silicon Valley is pouring more money into alt milks every year. In our newest issue of culture, we dive head first into the debate over vegan “cheese” and consider the environmental, health, and animal welfare factors that are shaping today’s cheese landscape. Read more here.

Josie Krogh

Josie Krogh is culture's Digital Strategy Lead. She earned her master's degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics from The University of Georgia. Josie developed a love of food while working at farmstands in the D.C. area as a young adult, and discovered her love of cheese while living and working on a dairy farm on Martha's Vineyard. She is passionate about the food supply chain, fresh stone fruit, and dogs. Josie currently lives in Catskill, NY.