N.C. State Fair Cheese Competition showcases growing industry
North Carolina’s growing cheese industry has gotten a welcome boost from the annual N.C. State Fair Cheese Competition. “We started the competition in 2011 to help small dairy farmers and give consumers exposure to what great cheeses we have,” said Steve Lathrop, head of dairy marketing for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. There are nearly 40 creameries producing cheese across the state, and many of them enter the fair’s cheese competition, Lathrop said. Entries are judged according to their class, or type, and the winners in each class contend for Best of Show. After the competition, the…