Haymay Creamery Won Best in Show at Maine Cheese Awards
The annual competition recognized outstanding local dairy products during the 10th Maine Cheese Festival in Pittsfield.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Food and Drink
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The Maine Cheese Guild awarded its top honor, Best in Show, to Haymay Creamery for its Pudge cheese. The award was presented during the 10th annual Maine Cheese Festival held in Pittsfield.
Why it matters
The annual awards highlight the craftsmanship and quality of Maine's local dairy industry. By showcasing regional producers, the event honors the creativity found in cheesemaking across the state.
Over 100 different cheeses were submitted for evaluation across 10 distinct categories. A panel of professional chefs and cheesemongers judged the entries based on flavor, texture, and presentation.
The players
Maine Cheese Guild
This professional organization supports the state dairy industry by hosting festivals and maintaining standards for local producers.
Haymay Creamery
Based in Farmington, this producer earned the top Best in Show recognition for its Pudge cheese entry.
The details
The competition involved extensive blind tasting where experts evaluated entries on presentation, texture, flavor, and overall quality. Alongside the top prize for Haymay Creamery, other notable winners included Spring Day Creamery, Fredrikson Farm, and Fuzzy Udder Creamery.
Timeline
September 27, 2026: The Maine Cheese Festival and Awards ceremony occurred.
Industry Dynamics
This award marks a milestone in the Maine Cheese Guild's growth of the Maine Cheese Festival, which has steadily expanded its reach over the past decade. The event serves as a central hub for regional producers to gain exposure in an increasingly competitive craft dairy market.
Consumers can identify award-winning products by looking for festival recognition marks at local retailers and farmers markets. These awards provide a guide for shoppers looking to source high-quality, state-produced artisanal cheeses.
The takeaway
Small-scale creameries often leverage competitive awards to distinguish their craft products in a crowded marketplace. Readers interested in supporting local agriculture can seek out these winning varieties at regional specialty shops.
Further reading
Learn more about local culinary achievements at the Maine Food and Drink section.
More information
View the complete list of 2026 award winners on the Maine Cheese Guild website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailybulldog.
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