Glengarry Fine Cheese earned multiple honours at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, with the Lancaster-based artisan cheesemaker earning top honours across several categories.
The company’s Celtic Blue and La Petite Fleur Pavée cheeses each earned first place in the Variety Cheese – Cow Milk competition, while Celtic Reserve finished third. The company also earned first-place finishes for its one-year-old and two-year-old cheddars, with the one-year-old cheddar named champion of the cheddar category, according to founder Margaret Peters Morris.
The results reaffirm her company’s commitment to quality and consistency, while highlighting the work that goes into producing its cheeses.
“For our own plant, it just reiterates that we really focus on quality and consistency here,” she said.
Peters Morris said the company’s success reflects the quality of the milk supplied by neighbouring dairy farms, the expertise of its cheesemaking team, and the facilities designed for artisan cheese production.
“We’re just using all we can to make the best cheese,” she said.
The company’s roots in cheesemaking predate the establishment of the Lancaster plant. Peters Morris began making cheese from milk produced on the family farm in the early 1990s, developing recipes that continue to form the foundation of the company’s products.
Glengarry Fine Cheese was established in 2008. Its sister business, Glengarry Cheesemaking Supplies, dates to 2000 and provides ingredients, equipment, and technical support to farmstead cheesemakers across Canada and the United States.
Local milk producers remain an important part of the operation. Peters Morris said Dairy Farmers of Ontario has supported the business by allowing the company to select some of the farms supplying its milk.
The awards also have benefits beyond the competition itself. Peters Morris said awards help draw attention to the plant and support the company’s continued growth. Glengarry Fine Cheese regularly enters competitions at different venues, typically every year or every other year.
“We always seem to be doing quite well, which is great,” Peters Morris said.
The company also continues to benefit from strong customer support. She said local businesses and consumers have been supportive, while some customers travel considerable distances to buy cheese directly from the plant.
Looking ahead to 2027, Peters Morris said the company hopes to continue its operations and achieve modest growth.
