May Brings American Cheese Month Celebration
American Cheese Month kicks off May 1. The annual event is a grassroots celebration of North America’s artisan and specialty cheeses and their makers and is organized by the American Cheese Education Foundation, the fundraising partner of the American Cheese Society.
Throughout the month of May, cheesemakers, dairy farmers, retailers, cheesemongers, and chefs highlight the diverse and delicious array of American cheeses and the community who bring them to the table.
In addition to spotlighting America’s robust cheese culture, the American Cheese Education Foundation, the American Cheese Society, and its members aim to:
• Recognize and raise awareness of the quality and diversity of American cheeses
• Support and promote great cheese, local foods, family farms, traditional methods, and sustainable production models
• Generate funding for education, scholarships, and research initiatives through the American Cheese Society
A large proportion of the funds raised during American Cheese Month goes to scholarships supporting ACS members to attend the annual industry conference. There, attendees including the scholarship recipients are able to enrich their professional experiences and cultivate industry connections in a sector still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
“All the scholarship recipients really appreciated the funding support, especially those impacted economically by the pandemic over the past two years,” noted Tara Holmes, executive director of the ACS.
Cheese lovers and cheese industry professionals alike can help spread the love of American cheese
throughout the month in a variety of ways.
ACS member cheesemakers, retailers, and specialty food distributors are encouraged to donate a portion of their sales to ACEF.
Individuals can also easily donate funds to help build the cheese community’s future by clicking the ‘donate’ button. Any amount is welcome.
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Philadelphia Cream Cheese Debuts Tax-Free Bagel
New York City may be the bagel capital of the world, but its residents incur a ludicrous “bagel tax” each time they opt to purchase a bagel that’s sliced and schmeared with cream cheese. As a brand that has set the cream cheese standard for 150 years, Philadelphia believes that no one should have to pay an extra tax to experience its silky-smooth delight. To address the New York bagel tax head-on, the brand is taking the tax and stuffing it (literally) with the debut of the new, limited-edition Tax-Free Bagel – available nationwide through Tax Day, Tuesday, April 18.
Created in partnership with the iconic H&H Bagels in New York City – the renowned 50-year-old bagel shop fans across the country know and love – the Tax-Free Bagel is a full-sized, unsliced bagel filled with smooth, creamy Philly cream cheese. The elimination of the bagel’s slice and schmear circumvents the additional tax requirement, making fans’ favorite bagel and schmear all the more enjoyable.
“In today’s landscape, people are juggling enough hurdles, and having to pay an extra tax to enjoy their favorite bagel with Philly cream cheese should simply not be one of them,” said Keenan White, senior brand manager, Philadelphia at Kraft Heinz Company. “A bagel with Philly cream cheese is an experience that so many know and love, so in partnership with H&H bagels, we wanted to provide a delicious solution to this silly tax in a way that kept the enjoyment of our brand at its core, literally.s
The Tax-Free Bagel will be available locally in H&H Bagel’s Manhattan-based locations and for national delivery at HHBagels.com, giving New Yorkers and people coast-to-coast the opportunity to partake in stuffing this ridiculous tax while supplies last. The Tax-Free Bagel will be available in H&H Bagel’s three best-selling flavors of Plain, Everything and Cinnamon Raisin, all stuffed with Philly cream cheese for a rich and creamy taste and texture in each bite.
“We pride ourselves on being ‘like no other bagel in the world,’ and are thrilled to partner with Philly, a fellow category icon that is truly unlike any other cream cheese in the world,” said Jay Rushin, CEO, H&H Bagels. “We know first-hand that bagels and cream cheese are the perfect pairing and want to show appreciation for our fans’ continued support by introducing the Tax-Free Bagel – because we believe nobody should be taxed for the simple pleasure of an H&H bagel with Philly cream cheese.”
For more information on the Tax-Free Bagel and how to purchase, follow along on Philadelphia’s Instagram at @phillycreamchs.
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Want Lower Egg Prices? Just Date a Farmer
The “egg crisis” is making consumers’ lives complicated—prices have skyrocketed, shelves are bare, and people are turning to unconventional ways to get their eggs. As a brand that’s all about finding unconventional solutions to make consumers’ lives easier, Just Crack an Egg has you covered: Just Date a Farmer. Just Crack an Egg, a quick delicious breakfast meal using a fresh egg, is partnering with FarmersOnly.com, the popular dating website with over 1.5 million single farmers looking for love, to give egg lovers the opportunity to meet a farmer and in return get fresh and affordable eggs.
Customers who purchase Just Crack an Egg can upload their receipt to www.justdateafarmer.com to receive a unique code for a free, premium year subscription to FarmersOnly.com, while supplies last.
“Finding affordable eggs has become a pain point for many Americans, and since consumers need to crack a fresh egg to create their own delicious Just Crack an Egg scramble, we wanted to help egg lovers find an unconventional solution while providing a little humor along the way,” said Kelsey Rice, senior brand manager, Just Crack an Egg. “As the first refrigerated breakfast scramble, Just Crack an Egg has a history of cracking conventional thinking. We know there are farmers out there with a plethora of eggs, so by partnering with FarmersOnly.com, we are making it easy to connect those searching for eggs- how they get the eggs is up to them.”
“At Farmers Only, we’re all about creating a solution for people trying to find their perfect match and, now, for finding eggs,” says Michael Gober of Farmers Only. “We’re excited to partner with Just Crack an Egg for a fun solution to getting eggs, and potentially a date with a farmer.”
Just Crack an Egg highlights the simplicity of using a fresh egg in your morning routine. Simply crack a fresh egg into deliciously prepared ingredients like cheese, vegetables, potatoes and meat to create a hot, fluffy scramble from the microwave in less than 2 minutes. Once you have your eggs (however you get them) look for Just Crack an Egg in the egg aisle at retailers nationwide. Available in seven different scramble kits, including Denver, All American, Ultimate Rustic, Protein Packed, Southwest Styles, and Veggie.
For more information, visit www.justdateafarmer.com or follow the brand @JustCrackAnEgg on Facebook and Instagram.
For more news of interest to the dairy industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.