The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) revealed that the 2024 World Championship Cheese Contest received 3,302 dairy product entries, between the cheeses, butters, yogurts and dairy ingredients that will contend for honors at the upcoming competition.

WCMA, which hosts the biennial event, shared that 400-plus dairy manufacturers from 25 countries and 32 states submitted products.

“In the US and around the world, the contest’s gold medal seal on the labels of award-winning products drives consumer purchases and boosts sales,” said WCMA contest director Kirsten Strohmenger. “Our contest offers entrants the chance at a coveted title, as well as valuable impartial technical feedback from a team of internationally renowned judges.”

Per WCMA, dairy producers from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, US and United Kingdom submitted entries.

Among US dairy manufacturers, products were submitted form companies that operate out of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

“It’s a truly global competition, with the best makers entering their best products – so a win at our Contest means the world,” Strohmenger said.

World Championship Cheese Contest judging sessions will be open to the public at Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison, Wis., on March 5 and 6. A livestream of the announcement of the top 20 cheeses and the world champion will follow on March 7 at 2 p.m. CT.

Additional information on the contest is available online at the competition’s website.