The Association of Cheese Producers of Ukraine (ACPU) has announced the results of the nationwide flash mob competition “Why do I make cheese?”, which ran from 29 June to 9 July 2026 and was held to mark European Farmhouse&Artisan Cheese Day. Sixteen artisan cheese dairies from various regions of Ukraine took part in the competition, and the winners were selected by a judging panel comprising nine dairy sector experts.
Every year on 1 July, artisan cheesemakers across Europe come together as part of an initiative by FACEnetwork, an organisation that represents and protects the interests of farmhouse and artisan cheese-making on the continent. Ukraine is part of this network and joined the celebrations for the second time this year.
As part of the campaign, Ukrainian cheesemakers posted on social media using the FACEnetwork frame, explaining why they chose the craft of cheesemaking, what inspires them, and the values that underpin their daily work. The stories were assessed by the ACPU judging panel against five criteria: sincerity and personal narrative, relevance to the theme, the values of artisanal cheese-making, inspiration and the influence of history, as well as compliance with the principles of legal production.
“Selecting the winners was incredibly difficult. Behind every post lies not just the story of a cheese-making business — it is the journey of a specific person, their trials, and often the pain that led them to this craft. For some, cheese-making offered solace after a loss; for others, it provided meaning and a source of strength during the hardest of times. We are sincerely grateful to every participant for their openness and courage in sharing their story with the whole of Ukraine,” said Tetyana Dyadechko, Head of the Association of Cheese Producers of Ukraine.
Switzerland consistently supports the trade potential of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine’s dairy sector. With the support of Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP), Ukrainian cheesemakers regularly gain new knowledge, international contacts and opportunities for professional development. Thanks to QFTP’s support, ACPU has become a member of the European FACEnetwork, which brings together national associations of artisan cheesemakers from across Europe. Another important step was Ukraine’s official representation on the FACEnetwork board, which significantly expands opportunities for Ukrainian producers to collaborate and participate in shaping the development of European artisanal cheese-making. Ukrainian cheesemakers also took part in the annual FACEnetwork conference, which serves as a platform for the international exchange of experience, professional dialogue and the development of partnerships. For more details about this event, please follow the link.
Participants’ voices: why they make cheese
The participants’ motivational essays turned out to be not just stories about the craft, but tales of loss, rescue and new beginnings. Here are some of the most moving excerpts from the competition entries.
“When my husband was killed in the war, I didn’t know how to carry on living. And it was cheese-making that became the thread that kept me from losing myself. Cheese taught me patience… that even after great pain, life can mature into something beautiful. I make cheese because one day it saved me,” — Iryna Vasyuta, “Irkyn Syr” cheese dairy, Dnipro — prize winner.
“After I fled the occupied territory because of the war, I found it hard to find my bearings. I didn’t just want to work; I wanted to create something with my own hands — something that would bring joy to people. On 19 March 2023, I made my first Normandy Camembert. It was then that I realised I’d found a calling that had become part of my life,” — Olena Muravyova, “Pivdennyi Kraft” cheese dairy, Ternopil.
“In 2022, my mum started a farm amidst all the devastation that had befallen our family and our country. And at that time, I put my studies abroad on hold and returned home to Ukraine… At the age of 21, my countless hours of work on cheese were recognised with the Grand Prix at the national cheese competition,” — Dana Serogina, “Yasna” Farmstead, Kyiv / Lishchynka village — prize winner.
“During the full-scale invasion, I realised that my knowledge of cheese-making could help solve the problem of children’s milk supplies in the village. After the de-occupation, the first goats appeared — abandoned by their owners. Today I have 50 goats… I’m 100 per cent a city woman, but I’ve been living a rural life for six years now. I believe that every animal deserves respect right up until its final days,” — Oksana Voropai, “Smakolyky vid Ksyuni” cheese dairy, Kyiv Oblast — winner of the grand prize.
“My life was changed by a small yellow ball of cheese that I happened to try whilst on holiday… The farm and cheese-making turned out to be the common thread that brought the whole family and three generations together. I feel truly alive. I’m living my true life—not perfect, but so wonderful. That’s why I started making cheese,” — Anastasia Kyrylenko, the Kyrylenko Family Cheese Atelier, Blystavitsya village — winner of the grand prize.
“We don’t just make cheese. We create a product that involves a lot of hard work, but it’s worth it… We believe that good cheese starts with a happy animal,” — Myroslava Voloshchuk, “Miryna’ Maysternia”— winner of the grand prize.
Winners of the grand prize (3 refrigerated display cabinets for cheese):
Kyrylenko Family Cheese Atelier
Prize winners (7 people):
Winners of the grand prize will receive refrigerated display cabinets for cheese, awards from ACPU, gifts from Tetyana Dyadechko’s Cheese-Making School, and ACPU souvenirs. Prize-winners will receive souvenirs from the Association, gifts from Tetyana Dyadechko’s Cheese-Making School, and ACPU awards.
For reference:
The Association of Cheese Producers of Ukraine brings together artisanal and industrial cheese producers with the aim of developing the sector, supporting good production practices and promoting Ukrainian cheese culture both in Ukraine and abroad.
The “Why do I make cheese?” flash mob competition, held to mark European Farmhouse and Artisan Cheesemaker’s Day, was organised by the Association of Cheese Producers of Ukraine with the support of Switzerland within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP), implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG (Switzerland).
