Great Success of the PDO Manchego Cheese Points of Sale Promotions in New York

Ten New York central markets successfully hosted PDO Manchego cheese demos from 25 th to 29 th March. More than 5,000 New Yorkers enjoyed a selection of authentic PDO Manchego cheeses during twenty tasting sessions at specialty shops such as Fairway, Whole Foods and Stinky Bkyln.

"The stand was crowded throughout the tasting sessions and people raised many questions about its origin and differences in relation to other cheeses," says Amanda O'Toole, who was responsible for the demos at Fairway Market on the Upper East Side.

The aim of these tasting sessions was to show American consumers how to spot the differences between real PDO Manchego cheese and the fake "Manchegos" often found in the US under the label "Manchego type of cheese" and others. With this goal in mind, the Regulating Council created informational leaflets listing the features consumers should look for when selecting a PDO Manchego in the US.

"Every cheese certified by the DO Manchego Cheese Regulating Council has two labels. Firstly there's the identification label on the outside of the cheese and secondly there's an exclusive serial number engraved in the cheese itself; these guarantee that each piece is unique," explained Ignacio Barco, President of the Manchego Cheese Designation of Origin (DO).

"These kinds of activities are actually very helpful for us. As consumers we look for what we need and what we think is best for us. When it comes to cheese, we often pay a higher price for a product which we later find out is not the original. These demos are the best way for occasional cheese consumers to learn how to identify it by receiving first-hand information," admitted Ryan Williams, one of the attendees at the promotions.

As part of the demos, the participants also had the chance to take part in a Manchego cheese draw. A cheese-lover kit will be delivered this April to the contest winner who correctly answered the questions certifying their status as a PDO Manchego connoisseur.

Nowadays, the US is the main destination for Manchego cheese exports. According to 2014 figures, over 8.4 million pounds of Manchego cheese were shipped to the US market which represents nearly half of total Manchego exports.

If you're a US Manchego cheese-lover, remember to follow PDO Manchego cheese via our website http://www.quesomanchego.es or our social media profiles.

SOURCE PDO MANCHEGO CHEESE

To post a comment, you must register and login.