For those of you who have yet to try Pecora Dairy's Yarrawa cheese, there might be a bit of a queue down at the Kiama Farmers' Market today despite the drizzle.

Yesterday, Yarrawa was announced the winner of three trophies (including Champion) at the 2021 Sydney Royal - Cheese and Dairy Produce Show.

Yarrawa is Australia's first non-cooked raw milk cheese, and the trophies are vindication of Cressida and Michael Cains' commitment to developing this style of cheese here.

"We are truly thrilled and honoured," say the owners of Pecora Cheese, which is located on the north western edge of the Kiama LGA, near the Illawarra Fly. Their flock is made up of Australia’s only exclusive pure East Friesian milking ewes, the world’s highest producing dairy sheep.

"Michael and Cressida have spent countless hours developing this unique and special cheese," says the Manager of the Kiama Farmers' Market, Tricia Ashelford. 

"This has included pasture improving, animal husbandry and welfare, industry leading product development and innovation, and pure passion and dedication to their cheesemaking craft.

"Congratulations to them on this outstanding recognition for their continuing drive and determination to create an artisan dairy industry in Australia."

The awards won were The Simon Johnson Perpetual Trophy, non-bovine; The Australian Cheeseboard Perpetual Trophy; and The Champion Cheese of Show. They build on years of other recognition from the Royal, the Delicious awards and other bodies.

Apart from their stall at the Farmers' Market, Pecora retails direct through their cheese shop in Robertson and via their website.