TILLAMOOK, ORE. – The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) awarded the title of overall best cheddar at this year’s cheese competition to Tillamook County Creamery Association’s reserve extra sharp cheddar from 2012.

It was just one of several distinctions the Oregon cooperative picked up recently. Three of its products earned a bronze award at the 2022 World Cheese Awards and Tillamook brought home a number of honors from the NMPF.

At the global cheese competition in Wales, each of the following products received a bronze award: Farmers' Collection Smoked Black Pepper White Cheddar, Tillamook Farmstyle Original Cream Cheese Spread and Tillamook Farmstyle Very Veggie Cream Cheese Spread.

Within the NMPF competition, Tillamook’s Maker's Reserve Extra Sharp 2012 collected first place in the extra sharp cheddar category and the award for overall best cheddar. Additionally, Tillamook Farmers' Collection English-Style Sweet Cheddar took second place in the extra sharp cheddar category.

Third place honors went to Tillamook Farmers' Collection English-Style Sweet Cheddar in the unique or mild flavor category and Tillamook Colby Jack in the natural cheese Colby jack category.

What’s more, the NMPF named Tillamook its Communicator of the Year and gave the farmer-owned cooperative first place for its annual report, stewardship report and cow care social media video.

"It's always exciting to have our hard work recognized and we are thrilled with the honors from these two prestigious and highly respected groups," said Jill Allen, director of product excellence for Tillamook. "At TCCA, we pride ourselves on being good stewards of the land, using quality ingredients and never cutting corners. Our products taste better because they're made right."

Complete results from this year’s World’s Cheese Awards can be found online at the event’s website. More than 4,000 cheeses that originated from 40-plus countries were evaluated for the contest.