From unique treats to a wish tree. What surprised at the Cheese Festival of the "Molochny Mir" in Grodno

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What surprised and delighted the Cheese Festival of the "Molochny Mir" in Grodno

The Cheese Festival, the main inspiration and organizer of which was the Order of Labor Glory OJSC "Molochny Mir" , traditionally takes place on the City Day and becomes the most delicious gift for Grodno's birthday. This year, even the grand opening of the city holiday and the cheese festival "With love for the native" on September 6 merged into one. And this is symbolic: cheeses from "Molochny Mir", like other products of the enterprise, have long become a brand of the Grodno region and all of Belarus. They not only firmly occupy a place in the top of the most popular in the country, but are also successfully sold in many countries of the world, confirming the thesis: Belarusian means high-quality, natural and very tasty.

Brand of Grodno region and Belarus

- Food security of our country is an integral part of state security, - said Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Yuri Shuleiko at the opening ceremony of the 12th Cheese Festival "With Love for the Native". - That is why the Grodno city holiday has been marching in unison with the cheese festival for many years. The festival has become akin to the city holiday, and this has found recognition among the people. Evidence of this is the huge number of Grodno residents, guests of the city and representatives of Belarusian enterprises gathered here today.

The lion's share of high-quality products manufactured in Belarus is formed at flagship enterprises known throughout the country, said Yuri Shuleiko. OAO Molochny Mir is one of such leaders.

“And the competition, organized by the leading producer in the Grodno region, is a competition of Belarusian cheese makers, cheese makers, their name, their honor,” the Deputy Prime Minister summed up.

Speaking about the cheese festival "With Love for the Native", the chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee Yuri Karaev emphasized that Belarusian and, in particular, Grodno dairy products are famous all over the world. The HEAD of the region thanked the Grodno residents for their work and love for their native city.

- Thanks to our cheesemakers, their talent and hard work, cheese has become the hallmark of the dairy industry of Belarus, - noted the Presidential Aide - Inspector for the Grodno Region Konstantin Burak. - The Grodno Region is at the forefront of the country's agricultural sector. Grain growers have threshed 1.5 million tons of grain of the new harvest . And at the XII Cheese Festival, outstanding masters of their craft prove that not only bread, but also cheese is the head of everything.

As the Presidential Aide – Inspector for the Grodno Region emphasized, cheese makers are keeping up with the times and expanding the range of products they produce. More than 200 types of cheese are produced in the Grodno Region. Last year, more than 53 thousand tons of cheese were produced here, 40 thousand of which were exported , bringing S185 million to the budget.

 The professionalism and social responsibility of Grodno cheesemakers, the organizers of the Cheese Festival, were noted by the Chairman of the Grodno City Executive Committee Andrei Khmel, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Belarus Alexander Yakovchits.

- We give our love in our products, - with these words the general DIRECTOR of JSC "Molochny Mir" Marina Anikeeva  addressed the residents of Grodno and guests of the city . - Today you can taste love. We love you, our admirers and consumers. Thank you for being with us!

And then came the culmination of the holiday - according to a wonderful tradition, the head of "Molochny Mir" presented another new product. This time - "Krones" cheese with mushrooms and chestnut. A huge wheel of cheese was ceremoniously carried onto the stage. To the applause of the audience, it was cut by Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Yuri Shuleiko, Chairman of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee Yuri Karayev, assistant

President - Inspector for the Grodno Region Konstantin Burak, Chairman of the Grodno City Executive Committee Andrei Khmel, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Alexander Yakovchits, General Director of Molochny Mir OJSC Marina Anikeeva.

Cheese in Clay and the Tree of Wishes

Folk wisdom says: those who know how to work well, also have a beautiful, bright, creative rest. This axiom was 100% embodied at the Cheese Festival in Grodno: here, each location surprised with original interactive activities, attracted with a variety of delicacies, pleased with treats and souvenirs.

 On Lenin Square, where the festival took place, the best enterprises of the dairy industry presented their locations: "Molochny Mir", "Savushkin Product", BELLAKT, Lida MILK and Canned Food Plant. And each one had its own unique products, competitions, games, activities.

At the location of "Molochny Mir", the door to the production process of the most delicious Grodno cheese was opened to the guests. The ceremony of sealing it in clay became one of the most exciting episodes of the holiday, because it symbolized the desire for quality and traditions of cheese making.

Yuri Shuleiko, Yuri Karaev, Konstantin Burak put their stamps on the unique, clay-clad cheese wheel, emphasizing with this action the importance of both the festival and the modern developing enterprise for the entire region. After that, the cheese was sent for maturation, in order to surprise with its unique taste and aroma at the next festival. And the honored guests were also given the right to break the clay shell of another cheese, brewed especially for the 897th anniversary of the city on the Neman, and they coped with this task with passion.

Among the activities was milking a symbolic cow: after all, cheese production begins with pure, high-quality milk. And this task was up to the head of the Grodno region, Yuri Karaev.

The next place to see was the magical Tree of Wishes, where everyone could tie a ribbon with a wish to their beloved Grodno. This location of the holiday became a place where people flocked with hope and joy to leave a piece of their hearts. "Molochny Mir" in turn wished their hometown prosperity, warmth and comfort, to always remain alive, bright and hospitable, and its residents - happy and contented. The wish list from the company's team included the wish that every street sparkled with new colors, and every corner was filled with laughter and joy. So that there were many reasons to be proud of their beloved city - modern initiatives, cultural events and successes. "May the dreams of everyone who comes here come true, and may our Grodno continue to prosper and delight us with new achievements! And we will delight everyone with new types of delicious, high-quality and fresh products," assured the representatives of "Molochny Mir".

Now the Tree of Wishes with all the cherished wishes has "moved" to the territory of "Molochny Mir". Every employee and guest can leave a piece of their heart here and share a dream about the future by tying their ribbon with wishes.

The best products were chosen by the people

Meanwhile, the delicious festival continued, and it was time to name the winners of one of the most exciting competitions - "People's Tasting", in which the guests and participants of the delicious holiday acted as connoisseurs of dairy products. The media company "PRODUCT.by" and its director Andrey Kireenko became a constant assistant and reliable partner in organizing such an important event.

Throughout the day, festival participants had a unique opportunity to try a variety of cheeses,cottage cheese and cottage cheese products, carefully selected by experts. Everyone could vote for the product that, in their opinion, deserved the title of the best. This interactive element added emotion, because the voting results remained secret until the culmination of the moment – ​​the announcement of the winners on the main stage.

And here it is - an exciting moment: the team of "Molochny Mir" once again demonstrated high standards of quality and skill and won 5 out of 13 awards. "Molochny Mir" continues to surprise and delight people with its high-quality, delicious traditional products and new products. Among the winners of the "People's Tasting" are "Greek" cheese, "Grand Parmesan" cheese and "Suluguni in Belarusian" cheese roll produced by the "Berestovitsa" workshop, "Rossiysky Novy" cheese produced in the "Skidel" workshop, as well as lactose-free cottage cheese Active Life.

The secret of success is love for your family

It is difficult to list all the locations and activities that attracted people to the Cheese Festival "With Love for the Native". A birthday present to the city was a concert featuring Anastasia Kravchenko, a finalist of "X-factor Belarus", who will represent our country at the pop song contest "Intervision", as well as Belarusian singer KC, the Honored Collective of the Republic of Belarus , the Dance, Music and Song Ensemble "Belye Rosy" and other popular performers.

The flow of people wishing to get into the special pavilion "Cheese Kitchen" did not stop, where the chef Evgeny Paskal gave a master class on making cheese "julienne in a potato", draniki-lavash with cheese fondue and curd dumplings with caramel sauce. In the "Gourmet Hall" it was possible to taste the products of JSC "Molochny Mir", take part in quests and prize drawings. And in addition, cheese could be sweetened: a honey sommelier helped the guests of the holiday to discover new impressive combinations of cheese and honey.

Nearby, people with a creative streak were learning straw weaving, vytynanka, and working with clay: the festival organizers invited everyone to join the master classes.

The Cheese Festival "With Love for the Native" has ended, but the workers of "Molochny Mir" always keep love for their hometown, Grodno region, Belarus, and their work in their hearts. That is why their cheeses and other products are so popular and loved: what is made with love is worthy of love!

More than 200 types of cheese are produced in the Grodno region. Last year, more than 53 thousand tons of cheese were produced here, 40 thousand of which were exported, bringing S185 million to the budget.

The Molochny Mir team won 5 out of 13 awards at the People's Tasting. The winners included Greek cheese, Grand Parmesan cheese and Belarusian Suluguni cheese roll produced by the Berestovitsa workshop, Russian New cheese produced by the Skidel workshop, and Active Life lactose-free cottage cheese. 

Liliya NOVITSKAYA, photo by Leonid SHCHEGLOV