World cheese winner in Eastern Iowa

Photographer Liz Martin and I had a great time at Acoustic Farms in Springville, Iowa, earlier this year.  I became addicted to their cheese curds and cheese spread that I found at the Springville and Mount Vernon winter farmers markets and wanted to know more. Liz and I collaborated on a story about their "micro dairy" that ran in The Gazette:

http://thegazette.com/blogs/homegrown/2010/04/07/micro-brewery-no-a-micro-dairy-for-iowa-cheesemakers

Acoustic Farms owners Mark Armstrong and Barbara Grant sent the following good news today about their recent award at a competition in England:

Linn County, Iowa now has boasting rights for being the home of an international award-winning cheese.

Acoustic Farms of Springville, IA won a Silver Medal for their Fromage Blanc con Citron in the International All-Jersey Cheese competition held on the Isle of Jersey, England this past weekend. The cheese was competing against representations from 10 countries.

Acoustic Farms is a relative new-comer to cheese-making.  Mark Armstrong and Barbara Grant began their dairy operation less than one year ago in September.  They began with 4 cows and are now milking 18 lovely registered Jersey girls.  Acoustic Farms produces over 350 lbs of cheese weekly.

The Armstrong-Grants won three medals in the All American competition last year – a gold for their Fromage Blanc con Ali, a silver for their Fromage Blanc con Citrone and a bronze for their Parma Canon in D.

Their cheeses are available for purchase locally at the following locations:  Hy-Vee at Edgewood Rd, Mt Vernon Rd, Collins Rd, Oakland Rd, Marion, and Waterfront Dr in Iowa City.  Additional locations include Whittier Market, Woody's in Springville, and both New Pioneer locations in Iowa City, and Coralville, and Family Foods in Anamosa.

The Armstrong-Grants also sell to their loyal customers at two farmer's markets:  Saturdays in Iowa City and Tuesdays in Springville.