Japanese importers to visit annual Artisan Cheese Fair in Melton Mowbray
03/05/2012
The Fair is organised by the Melton Mowbray Food Partnership, is sponsored by the Stilton Cheese Makers Association, and will be held in the exhibition halls at the town's Cattle Market. Cheese fairs have been held in Leicestershire since 1883 and this year's inaugural event will be a celebration of the country's finest artisan cheese makers with many of the UK's leading producers set to be exhibiting.
Dr Matthew O'Callaghan, Chairman of the Melton Mowbray Food Partnership commented: "Traditionally, around two-thirds of the cheese consumed in Japan is imported from North America and Australasia, meaning that the European market is often overlooked. We believe that the quality of British cheese is unsurpassed and hopefully, this visit will show our Japanese visitors some of the finest examples of artisan cheese produced in the UK."
The aim of the Artisan Cheese Fair is to support artisan cheese makers and to give people in the Midlands an opportunity to attend an event dedicated to cheese. The cost of entry is just £1 and there will also be a select number of other stands - including wine, beer, pies, bread, etc - that complement the cheese.
Leicestershire is famous for cheese - the area around Melton Mowbray for Stilton Cheese and the south west of the county for Red Leicester. Stilton is regarded by many as the ‘King of Cheeses' and Red Leicester is the second most popular cheese after Cheddar. Melton Mowbray is ‘the UK's Rural Capital of Food and Drink', having secured EU protected status for Stilton Cheese and Melton Mowbray Pork Pies.
For more information on the Artisan Cheese Fair, visit www.artisancheesefair.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @ArtisanCheeses. For details on where to stay, visit www.goleicestershire.com/food-and-drink/Artisan-Cheese-Fair.aspx
