Central Point, Oregon-based Rogue Creamery President David Gremmels has been recognized with the American Cheese Society Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2005, Gremmels petitioned ACS to introduce a Lifetime Achievement Award. The organization’s first Lifetime Achievement Award honored Gremmels’ mentor, Ignazio “Ig” Vella, remembered as, “The Godfather of Artisanal Cheese.”
Peg Smith of Cowgirl Creamery introduced the award at a ceremony July 22, as “an honor that is given to someone whose professional accomplishments have made an impact in the American Cheese Society and in the American Cheese Industry, and has earned the respect of professional colleagues.”
In his more than three decades promoting cheese and 20-year career at the helm of Rogue Creamery, Gremmels has led many initiatives for his company and the cheese industry, both domestically and abroad. In addition to serving as a former president and chair of ACS, he helped launch the American Cheese Education Foundation, founded the Oregon Cheese Guild and created the Oregon Cheese Festival.
“I am humbled, honored and inspired by this recognition. I have not only found my community, extended family and friends through the American Cheese Society, but my life’s work,” Gremmels said. “I am grateful to Rogue Creamery’s team and the cheesemakers and mongers, buyers, brokers and representatives that share our progressive story each day.”
Under Gremmels’ leadership, Rogue Creamery has become a leader in sustainability in the cheese industry.
Rogue Creamery’s Rogue River Blue was honored as the World Champion Cheese at the World Cheese Awards, the first and only American cheese ever to earn this accolade. Rogue Creamery has also won two ACS Best of Show Awards and a SIAL Innovation Award.
In 2021, The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy awarded Rogue with the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award for Outstanding Dairy Processing and Manufacturing. Earlier this year, Oregon Business Magazine ranked the cheesemaker No. 1 on its annual Best Green Workplaces in Oregon list.
“In my life and business, I’ve always led with three words: safe, healthy and positive,” Gremmels said in his acceptance speech. “And it was during a session at the American Cheese Society conference that I was inspired to add one more term to that vision: other-centered…These words together, they guide me. I invite you to please join me in making a difference that is safe, healthy, positive and other-centered.”
For more information, visit roguecreamery.com.
