This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Comté PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), although the cheese’s history goes back almost 1,000 years. Comitй Interprofessionnel de Gestion du Comtй (CIGC) held a four-day celebration at the Royal Salt works at in Arc-et-Senans, France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This event was a moment of sharing among those who craft Comté cheese and the consumers who enjoy it. In addition, it provided the opportunity to salute the history, future and the pursuit of excellence embodied by the Comté PDO as well as recognize the contributions the organization has made to the community, the environment and the vitality of the region.
The festivities, which commenced on October 19th, included events for Comté professionals from farmers to affineurs, school children as well as for the general public. These included a giant fondue with 1,500 participants, a mini-comice (cattle exhibition and contest) and a Comté village with cheese tasting workshops, demonstrations, historic exhibits and a bookstore featuring local authors.
The anniversary can also be enjoyed virtually, through a series of videos that showcase everyone in the production of Comté and beyond. These can be viewed at http://vismavie-comte.com/ or for more information contact trade@comte-usa.com.
Consumers are encouraged to look for the special green plate that has been affixed on wheels of Comté, to commemorate the occasion.
