Charles Duque is the Managing Director for North America for the French Dairy Board. He travels all throughout the continent, promoting French cheese from Central America to Canada. On today's show, Elena chats with Charles in studio about how his promotional efforts are received in the different countries he focuses on, and the state of cheese enthusiasm throughout this vast region.

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On today's show, Elena interviews cheesemaker/creamery worker and photographer at the Cellars at Jasper Hill, Lilith Spencer. Lilith's cheese career started in college. Lilith began mongering at some of the best retail counters in NYC, hit Instagram fame for her artistic cheese board creations, and has landed in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Elena and Lilith chat about how to navigate opportunities and interests in the cheese world while also trying to pay the bills.

It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate

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On a continued Italian kick, Diane interviews author and food tour operator Elizabeth Minchilli about her new cookbook, The Italian Table.

It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate

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Pairing wine and cheese is so classic, it's become a cliche. Craft beer has enjoyed an upswell of interest lately, and with that it's also been the focus of a lot of pairing opinions. But one of our favorite pairing partners - cider - hasn't gotten its proper due. Today, Jeff Russell - cider fanatic and sales director for Vermont's Eden Cider - joins us to talk about the state of the cider nation, tips for pairing, and how cheese and cider might not be such strange bedfellows.

It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate

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Elena taped today's episode at the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Booth at the Summer Fancy Food Show. Today's episode features shorter interviews with ten different cheesemakers, all from Wisconsin and all making unique products! From the science behind cheese spread texture to the benefits of using a bio digester, these mini-interviews are full of interesting details and endearing Wisconsin accents.

It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate

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The Summer Fancy Food Show is happening this week in New York City and that means cheesemakers and specialty food producers are in town in a big way. Our guests today are in town from Italy: Bruno Gritti of Quattro Portoni and Paola Calciolari of Le Tamerici chat with Elena about their products and what's ahead for them during their trip to the states.

It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate

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In our third Cheesemaking Elements episode of the year, Elena visits Crown Finish Caves, Brooklyn-based Affineur, to focus on the final steps in the cheesemaking process: maturing, packaging and distributing the cheese. Elena chats with Crown Finish Cave Manager Ethan Partyka and Sales Director Caroline Hesse.

It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate

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On today's show Diane interviews writer Natalie Danford. Natalie was the translator for Slow Food's Osteria: 1,000 Generous and Simple Recipes from Italy's Best Local Restaurants.

It's HRN's annual summer fund drive, this is when we turn to our listeners and ask that you make a donation to help ensure a bright future for food radio. Help us keep broadcasting the most thought provoking, entertaining, and educational conversations happening in the world of food and beverage. Become a member today! To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we have brand new member gifts available. So snag your favorite new pizza - themed tee shirt or enamel pin today and show the world how much you love HRN, just go to heritageradionetwork.org/donate

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Our guest today is Amy Thompson, owner and operator of Full Shelf Foods. Amy's path to business ownership was mostly rooted in retail work. We'll hear about how she's bringing a cheesemonger's perspective to brokerage space. Also, what exactly is a brokerage-type business?

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Jessica Kesselman joins Elena in studio to discuss working in cheese alongside her journey as a parent. How well does the cheese industry support parents, and what are the challenges specific to parents that come up when working in cheese? Elena and Jessica explore the answers to these questions and more on today's episode!

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