TILLAMOOK, ORE. – Tillamook County Creamery Association brought home one silver medal and two bronze medals from the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest.

In the spreadable natural cheese category, Tillamook received silver for its Tillamook Farmstyle Original Cream Cheese Spread and bronze for Tillamook Farmstyle Chive and Onion Cream Cheese Spread.

The Oregon-based farmer-owned cooperative's Tillamook Hickory Smoked Cheddar also took bronze in the open class for hard smoked hard cheeses.

A team of 53 internationally renowned judges evaluated all entries at the three-day event held in Madison, Wis., and hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. The three highest-scoring entries in each class received medals.

"It's always exciting to have our hard work rewarded, and with more than 2,900 dairy product entries, this year's competition was especially stiff," said Jill Allen, director of product excellence for TCCA. "At TCCA, our products taste better because they're made right, and we pride ourselves on using quality ingredients and never cutting corners — for 113 years."

Tillamook launched its cream cheese spreads in December 2019. They are made without gums, fillers or preservatives. The cooperative's soft cream cheese grew by 123% in 2021.