Market of Choice was proud to be a sponsor and participant of the Oregon Cheese Festival, which has become one of the largest events of its kind in the United States. Held in Central Point, Oregon, the Oregon Cheese Festival draws artisan cheesemakers, vintners, brewers and more from near and far.
Held on March 13, 2021, this year’s virtual festival distributed an “Oregon Cheese Fest To-Go” tasting kit that featured 14 unique Oregon cheeses, preserves, crackers and chocolates to create a carefully curated mix of some of the local area’s most unique treats for participants to enjoy.
A tasty cheese pairing
Known by her friends as “KaSo,” Kate is the Cheese Manager at our Medford Market and has worked in the cheese industry since 2013, including at Rogue Creamery, which she proudly describes as “makers of the world’s best cheese.”
In this video, she talks about Rogue Creamery’s limited release Brutal Blue cheese, which is thick, creamy, packed with extra flavor and features an ideal level of acidity, Kate says. She pairs it with Marionberry Jam with Port from Vintner’s Kitchen, a family company in Southern Oregon. Together, Kate says the combination of smooth Brutal Blue and sweet Marionberry Jam makes for a delicious “berry cream pie.”
From cheesemakers to your table
Market of Choice offers several excellent cheeses by cheesemakers who participated in the Oregon Cheese Festival, including:
Rogue Creamery: Since it opened its doors in 1933, this Southern Oregon creamery has grown by leaps and bounds while striving to maintain the character and spirit of its roots. Rogue Creamery cheeses can be found in shops and restaurants around the world.
Oregon State University: Students in the College of Agricultural Sciences are the makers of the popular Beaver Classic line of cheeses.
Don Froylan Creamery: The Ochoa family has been making award-winning, authentic Mexican cheese since the late 1990s in Albany, Oregon.
La Mariposa Cheese: Features handcrafted artisan cows’ milk cheeses made in Albany, Oregon, crafted by a second-generation cheesemaker from Argentina.
Tillamook Creamery: This 110-year-old farmer-owned company on the Oregon Coast is one of the state’s biggest tourist attractions, and its cheeses are known for their quality across the country and around the world.
Portland Creamery: Dedicated to producing simple, excellent, handcrafted goat cheese.
Face Rock Creamery: A young, award-winning cheddar creamery in Bandon, its handmade cheeses have been gaining national acclaim.
Willamette Valley Cheese Co.: Artisan organic cows’ milk cheese, handcrafted in the traditional European style in Salem, Oregon.
Cascadia Creamery: Aged, raw, handcrafted cheese by a family-run company in the foothills of Mount Adams in Trout Lake, Washington.
By George: Combining a love of land, animals and cheese to create spreadable, meltable delicacies from their Rogue Valley farm.
