Cheese trophy returns to Wisconsin

GREEN BAY, Wis., March 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Cheese Championship Contest trophy has returned to Wisconsin after two years of going to other states.

The winner, selected Thursday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, was a Parmesan produced in Antigo, Wis., the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Second prize went to a goat's milk cheese from Oregon and a New York state cheddar took third.

But the top prize was back in the state that regards itself as the center of U.S. cheese.

This year's contest had a record 1,360 competitors from 32 states. Two years ago, the top prize went to a New York cheese and an Indiana cheese came out on top in 2005 -- although Wisconsin has won 11 of the 15 contests held every two years since 1981.

"There's never been so many cheeses in one place at one time -- ever," said John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association.

The winner, SarVecchio Parmesan, is produced by Sartori Food Corp.