Cheese Trail in the South East of England
A new cheese trail for the South East reveals that there are well over 50 different types of cheeses now made in the region.
Falling milk prices coupled with consumer demand for alternatives to trusty Cheddar-style cheeses have prompted a revival in artisan cheese-making since the mid 1990s. The NFU has joined with the South East Food Group Partnership to map out this renaissance in a new leaflet Cheeses in the South East of England. It explores the history of cheese-making, pinpointing the locations of today's award winning producers and their cheeses.
NFU South East spokeswoman Isobel Bretherton says: "The majority of people who have embarked on cheese production are dairy farmers who have experienced poor farm-gate prices for liquid milk for far too long now. By making cheese they can add value to their milk almost overnight. Milk producers who don't wish to make cheese themselves re only too willing to sell their milk direct to a cheese-maker. That way they get a far better price for their milk than they would receive from a major processor."
Henriette Reinders, director of South East Food Group Partnership, says: "Trade inquiries for English cheese are at an all time high. The UK now produces more than 600 individual cheeses, making it a rival to France. Over the past three years, the South East Food Group Partnership has assisted cheese producers to improve the quality and consistency of their products and to develop new local cheeses. This is really paying off when you see the significant number of awards being presented to the region's producers."
Cheese producers in the South East are using the milk of cows, goats, sheep and even water buffalo to create an incredible diversity of cheeses. The region boasts variations on Cheddar style cheeses, matured for many months, soft, mild cheeses flavoured with herbs and semi-soft continental type cheeses. To cater for changing consumer tastes, producers have emulated speciality cheeses such as halloumi from Cyprus, Greek feta, Italian mozzarella or parmesan.
Cheeses in the South East of England has been funded by SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, with Food From Britain.
Download our Cheese Trail Leaflet by clicking on the link (top left) and see if there is a local cheese producer near you!