Boutique dairy producers encouraged to benchmark products.

Dairy producers from across Australia are being called on to enter the 2024 Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy Show, with entries now open for one of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s (RAS) most prestigious competitions.

Since the 1870s, the RAS has been analysing dairy products with the aim of both celebrating producers who are delivering the highest quality and allowing producers to see how they stack up against their peers.

This year it is boutique dairy producers and artisans that are being encouraged to enter with 94 classes including milk, butter, cheese, gelato, yoghurt and more.

Tiffany Beer, Chair of Judges for the Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy

Produce Show, says there is a signifcant beneft to producers who are willing to put their product forward for assessment by the best in the industry.

“Competitions like the Sydney Royal Cheese

& Dairy Produce Show offer producers a unique opportunity to not only benchmark themselves against their competitors to see where they sit in the industry but also to access some of Australia’s top judges for individual feedback,” Beer said.

“It’s been a diffcult few years for the dairy industry and we have continued to face countless challenges, however amongst that we continue to see many boutique dairy producers popping up within the industry and I call on them to enter. Smaller up and coming producers can beneft enormously from putting their products to the test and receiving such specifc industry advice.”

“Our judges come from all parts of the industry, so producers will receive feedback not only on the product quality but also how it fts into the wider industry.”

Entries for the competition are open for 4 weeks only, closing on 18 October 2023, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Judging for the 2024 competition will take place from 5th - 8th February, with winners announced at the Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy Awards on 15th February.

For more information or to enter the competition, please visit www.rasnsw.com. au/competitions/foodbeverage-and-produce/ cheese-dairy-details/