Kate's Homemade Butter Wins Top Honors at 2006 World Dairy Expo

A small butter-maker from Maine overtakes its national competition, including the Wisconsin dairy stronghold, to be named 2006 World Dairy Champion in the Salted Butter category. The gourmet butter earned a near-perfect 99.5 score.

Old Orchard Beach, ME (PRWEB) October 25, 2006 -- Kate's Homemade Butter, the premium butter known for its fresh, rich taste and commitment to using cream from rBGH-free cows, announces it is the champion of the 2006 World Dairy Expo Dairy Contest in the Salted Butter category.

Sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association, the 2006 World Dairy Expo Contest attracted 320 entries from manufacturers representing all segments of the dairy industry. The panel of judges included independent experts recognized in their respective categories, such as cheese, butter, fluid milk, buttermilk, whipping cream, cottage cheese, yogurt and sour cream.

Kate's Homemade Butter competed in the salted butter category against leading butter makers, including the Wisconsin dairy stronghold. Butter samples were judged on product attributes such as taste and texture. Kate's winning entry scored an impressive 99.5 points on a 100-point scale.

Dr. Robert Bradley, nationally recognized professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, licensed butter grader, and a judge at the World Dairy Expo, remarked: "Kate's Homemade Butter flavor was perfect. Kate's owner Daniel Patry has an excellent product. He is innovative, carefully selects the cream he uses in his butter, and is meticulous about the way Kate's equipment is cleaned. The result is a superior product."

Kate's Homemade Butter is made fresh daily by the Patry family in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The company was founded in 1981 by Daniel and Karen Patry. This was the first time Kate's entered the World Dairy Expo competition. Says Patry: "To be recognized by my peers for such a prestigious award is both an honor and a joy. We've been making Kate's Homemade Butter the same way for over 25 years – one careful batch at a time – and have always known we have a world-class product, but to be named World Dairy Champion is a gratifying acknowledgement of what we've always believed."

The company uses pasteurized cream from New England dairy farms that pledge not to use artificial growth hormones. Kate's butter does not contain artificial colors, preservatives or other additives, and unlike most other butters, is made fresh and delivered fresh to stores – never frozen.

Kate's churns its butter slowly in small batches, with minimal handling, then wraps each stick in protective foil to maintain freshness. From the moment the cream is poured into the churn to the time the butter is delivered to stores, the company maintains control of the process. The final result is the creamy, delicate texture and delicious taste of Kate's Homemade Butter, perfect for holiday baking.

Kate's Homemade Butter is available at Shaw's, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, and natural food stores. For more information, contact Kate's at 207-934-5134, or visit www.kateshomemadebutter.com.

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