Two Hawke's Bay cheese makers have won a bag of medals at the 2017 New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards.
Origin Earth secured four medals: A gold was won for their Halloumi, a silver for their Pink & White Terraces and a bronze each for both their Pecorino, smoked Halloumi and Sleeping Giant.
Hohepa Homes primarily sell their surplus cheese at the farm gate and local farmers' market, but following the rigorous weekend of judging they have come out with a gold an bronze medal. Gold was awarded for their Vintage and bronze for their Tasty cheese.
Hohepa Hawke's Bay general manager Andy White said he was thrilled at the result and proud of the cheese makers again winning awards from the Clive bio-dynamic farm's dairy herd.
Cheese making was originally a sideline but was becoming more important as it became more important, both financially and because it enabled real jobs for the people at Hohepa Homes.