Armagh dairy farmer Dean says ‘cheese’ for top award!

Triple Rose cheese is the only one from Northern Ireland to reach today’s finals of the world’s first Virtual Cheese Awards, an online competition created because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The awards focus on the best UK cheeses and are being judged virtually by a team of experts.

The competition is supported by the Specialist Cheesemakers Association and Food NI.

Portrush-based Irish Black Butter is also sponsoring s category and has its sweet/savoury sauce included in a special cheese box to raise funds for the sector.

Dale Farm, Northern Ireland’s biggest dairy co-operative, is another sponsor.

All profits from the awards will be donated to the Specialist Cheesemakers Association and RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) for their continued support of British farmers and dairy producers.

Ballylisk’s Dean Wright, commenting the event, says: “It is immensely encouraging to reach the finals of this important event especially at this time when artisan cheese making is only slowly recovering from the lockdown.

“The profile it could bring in Britain, in particular, for my cheese could be important as we endeavour to rebuild sales there after we had to scale production back when many of our customers in hotels and restaurants closed.

“Our cheese production is back to full capacity and many high-end customers are approaching us again for the product.”

The lockdown also saw Dean switch from cheese production to a fresh milk delivery service around many parts of Armagh.

It proved such a successful initiative that he extended it to include many other local artisan foods and drinks including potatoes, traditional breads and apple juice.

“I plan to continue the delivery service alongside our speciality cheese business because of its success,” he continues.

“We have built up an extensive customer base of people who liked our fresh-from-the farm milk and came to depend upon us.

“I valued greatly their support at such a difficult time for the farm and cheese business and have no intention of letting customers down.

“They helped us to survive the lockdown.

“We’ll be seeking, therefore, to develop what has become an important part of the overall business and a popular customer service.

“We’ve also found good business with lots of local cafes. So, the fresh milk delivery service will remain an important part of our wider business.”

Ballylisk of Armagh is an excellent example of an enterprising family business which faced the challenges of lockdown and prospered through the innovation, professionalism and gritty determination of its owner.

“I had no idea if the milk delivery service would work at the start,” he says.

“I had to generate cash for the cheese business and, of course, the farm which provides superb quality milk from our Friesian herd.

“We are immensely grateful to customers that it did.”

The lockdown also gave him an opportunity to look at expanding the cheese business for the recovery.

As a result, new versions of a smoked Triple Rose and an apple washed cheese are now available.

The apple juice washed cheese uses juice from Long Meadow Cider, a family business close to Dean’s farm at Tandragee.

Dean will know later today if he’s been successful in the Virtual Cheese Awards in Britain.

Sarah de Wit, co-founder of the novel awards who’s also a cheese and dairy consultant, says: “Covid-19 has put paid to all the big cheese shows and along with the ongoing challenges cheese producers are facing to sell their produce, there is a real crisis for our much-loved industry.

“I really wanted to do something positive to help support cheesemakers across Britain and celebrate their fantastic cheeses.

“We want the awards to be a real celebration of cheese and show some behind the scenes of how cheese is judged and tasted, with some of UK’s most esteemed cheese judges.”