2 Dec 2013

Wairarapa cheese maker takes silver in international competition

2:39 pm on 2 December 2013

A traditional farmhouse cheese from a bite-sized artisan cheese-maker in Eketahuna has won a silver medal at the World Cheese Awards which were held in United Kingdom last week.

Biddy Fraser-Davies, who runs Cymglyn Farmhouse Cheese milks just four cows - and believes her emphasis on quality is paying off.

But Ms Fraser-Davies says Government red-tape nearly stopped her cheese being sent overseas for judging in the first place.

Initially MPI said she couldn't send her cheese for lack of an export licence but subsequently found a clause in the legislation for entering overseas competitions.

It's not the first time Ms Fraser-Davies has had to battle officialdom.

She says the cost of compliance is too steep for small artisan cheese makers in New Zealand - and believes the Government's mindset needs to change.