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A new brand of cheese that celebrates the unique landscape and rich dairy heritage of Cumbria has been launched this week by The First Milk Cheese Company (FMCC).

The Lake District Cheese Company is producing the finest Cumbrian cheddar from our re-named Lake District Creamery in Aspatria. The new cheese is being launched to an invited audience of 300 guests, including Cumbrian First Milk members and key local opinion formers at a celebratory event at the Rheged Centre in Penrith.

Our Cumbrian cheddar is made using long-established methods, based on traditional recipes from our creamery which has been making cheese for decades.
Each of the three cheeses is skilfully crafted by our team of expert cheese makers at the Lake District Creamery:

•  Our Mature Cumbrian Cheddar is a classic, firm textured mature cheddar.
•  Our Extra Mature Cumbrian Cheddar is strong and tangy and is selected for its deliciously rich depth of flavour.
•  The Cumbrian Smokey is smoked over chipped oak to give it its delicious flavour.

To celebrate our farmers’ involvement in this delicious product, three local producers are featuring on both the packaging and posters around the county.  Read Terry Johnstone’s story also on this page.

eff Halliwell, Managing Director of FMCC, is very excited about the launch.  “The launch of the Lake District Cheese Company is the culmination of many months of hard work by a wide range of people.

Firstly, we have to thank our cows and our farmer members who produce the finest quality milk which enable us to make this excellent Cumbrian cheddar.  As we’ve said on our posters ‘the flavour starts here’ and without their dedication and commitment, we couldn’t have launched these products,” he said.
Jeff also paid tribute to his team at Aspatria who have worked tirelessly to deliver this cheese. “No-one has ever produced a cheese that communicates the heritage and qualities of Cumbria and the Lake District – until now – and we think it has been well worth waiting for.

Regional provenance is at the heart of The First Milk Cheese Company’s success.  Scotland has the Highlands & Islands range, now there is The Lake District Creamery for Cumbria and we are continuing to develop further ideas,” explained Jeff.

ook out for further stories from the launch event in next month’s StraightTalk.