Business

Celebrate the Holiday Season with 12 Days of Cheese at Whole Foods Market

Published

3 years ago

December 6, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Whole Foods Market’s annual 12 Days of Cheese returns from Dec. 13 through Dec. 24, highlighting some of the highest quality and world-renowned cheeses that will elevate any charcuterie or cheese board this festive season. Handpicked by Whole Foods Market’s Specialty Cheese team, which includes Certified Cheese Professionals (CCPs) recognized by the American Cheese Society for their exceptional knowledge and skills, these distinctive cheeses showcase the expertise of our highly trained team members.

“The 12 Days of Cheese sampler bag also offers a quick and thoughtful way to gift a host, enhance any holiday meal or even just treat yourself this December.”
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This year’s cheese line-up includes the only American Cheese Society Best in Show three-time awardee, Uplands Pleasant Ridge Reserve, and several others with top previous recognitions. Each of the selected cheeses will be 35% off for Prime members for all 12 days and 28% off without Prime. Additionally, a 12 Days of Cheese sampler bag, including three handpicked cheeses, Savannah Bee Whipped Honey and crackers, will be available for $34.99.

“With the festive season upon us and the trend of DIY cheese boards and charcuterie at an all-time high, our team of CCPs is thrilled to present the 12 Days of Cheese program, an annual tradition that can provide inspiration to both cheese novices and enthusiasts alike. We’ve scoured the globe to bring you an array of innovative cheeses at an exceptional value, and our knowledgeable store team is eager to share tips to create the perfect pairings,” said Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market’s Ambassador of Food Culture and renowned cheese expert. “The 12 Days of Cheese sampler bag also offers a quick and thoughtful way to gift a host, enhance any holiday meal or even just treat yourself this December.”

The featured cheeses this year include:

Jasper Hill Farm Cabot Clothbound Cheddar – Made as a collaboration between two titans of the Vermont cheese scene, this cheddar is produced at Cabot Creamery and aged to perfection in the Cellars of Jasper Hill Farm. Look for notes of toasted nuts, caramel and grass with a lingering tang on the finish.
Sweetgrass Dairy Thomasville Tomme – Thomasville Tomme is a grass-based, raw, cow’s milk cheese made in the style of a French mountain Pyrenees Tomme. The dairy’s free-range Jersey-based herd yields milk high in butterfat, giving this cheese its smooth, creamy character. Thomasville Tomme is subtle and complex, with a thin, natural rind that gives way to a semi-firm golden interior.
Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog – This masterpiece paved the way for soft-ripened goat cheese in America, and each handcrafted wheel features a distinctive ribbon of edible vegetable ash. With flavors of buttermilk and fresh cream, this beloved cheese is complemented with floral notes, herbaceous overtones and a clean citrus finish.
Cowgirl Creamery Mt. TAM Organic Triple Cream – Organic, single-source, forage-based milk from Marine Co. makes this triple cream cheese an American original and a customer and team member favorite. A dense, fudgy core in an evolving creamline features fresh grass aromatics and rich notes of crème fraiche, cultured butter and white mushrooms.
Uplands Pleasant Ridge Reserve – Winner of an unmatched three Best in Show American Cheese Society awards, Pleasant Ridge Reserve is one of just two cheeses produced at Uplands Cheese, a farmstead grass-fed cheesemaker in southwestern Wisconsin. The cheese boasts a distinct sweetness typical of Alpine cheeses with notes of pineapple, toasted nuts and grass with a lingering finish redolent of hay and alliums.
Vermont Creamery Bijou – Introduced in 2006 by Vermont Creamery, Bijou (translating to “jewel” in French) is a button-shaped goat Crottin made in the tradition of goat cheeses from the Loire Valley in France. The distinctive wrinkled texture lends a light, slightly yeasty character while ripening the center of the cheese to a dense and fudge-like consistency with notes of citrus and herbs.
Neal’s Yard Dairy Appleby’s Cheshire – Though farmhouse-style cheese was once one of the most famous styles of British cheeses, the Appleby family — of Hawkstone Abbey Farm — is now the only cheesemaker producing these raw-milk, clothbound wheels. Crumbly in texture with a notable acidic, tart finish evocative of lemon peel, grass and cream, Cheshire is a natural pair to crisp apple slices, whole grain mustard and fruit compotes.
MonS Pyrénées Brébis – Produced in the Basque region of southwestern France, Pyrénées Brébis is a natural rind product similar to other Protected Designation of Origin cheeses from the Pyrénées region but aged in famed affineur Hervé Mons’ caves west of Lyon. Mild and sweet with hints of rosemary, thyme and hazelnuts, it pairs well with cherries and something effervescent to offset the rich texture of the sheep’s milk.
Papillon Roquefort Revelation – Quite possibly one of the most famous cheeses, Roquefort comes from the Combalou Caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon in France. Roquefort earned the first-ever cheese-protected designation of origin (AOC) in 1925 and is required by law to be made from raw Lacaune sheep’s milk from the surrounding area. Roquefort is robust and complex, featuring notes of licorice, herbs and pepper with a lingering finish.
Quattro Portoni Quadrello di Bufala – Hailing from outside Bergamo in northern Italy, Quattro Portoni is a small, family-owned water buffalo milk farm. Water buffalo milk has been used in cheesemaking since at least the Medieval era but only sporadically makes appearances in American cheese counters. Modeled off another washed-rind Italian classic, Taleggio, Quadrello di Bufala has a lighter, milder profile with a compact, fatty paste and orange moist rind.
Klare Melk Truffle Gouda – Exclusive to Whole Foods Market, this gouda is made from raw cow’s milk and generously studded with black truffles throughout the paste. Rich and savory with an unmistakable truffle kick, it is especially fun at home on cheese boards; pair it with honey for a sweet-salty kick.
Emmi Kaltbach Cave Aged Gruyère – This gruyère features silo-free, raw cow’s milk aged in the sandstone caves of Kaltbach, Switzerland, where the mineral-rich air creates the ideal environment for transforming wheels into the depths of flavor for AOP Swiss perfection. Robust and deeply full-flavored with rich tones of tangy fruit and classic nuttiness, this cheese does it all, from classic fondue to salads, potatoes, roast meats and even dessert.

Whole Foods Market’s cheese experts ensure that stores offer a diverse selection of the highest quality cheeses, all of which are free of rBST, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. Each store offers hundreds of different types of cheese sourced from artisan cheesemakers around the world, as well as several varieties from each store’s local community. Find out more about the 12 Days of Cheese program here, including more pairings and tips from our expert team.

Business

New AdventHealth Middleton Clinic Brings Pediatric Specialists, Urogynecology Near The Villages

Published

1 week ago

October 30, 2026

FNN NEWS

The multispecialty clinic features 24 treatment rooms, pediatric imaging and services designed to bring care closer to Middleton families.

MIDDLETON, Fla. (FNN) — Families in Middleton have a new option for pediatric and women’s specialty care with the opening of the AdventHealth Middleton Multispecialty Clinic, according to an Oct. 29 news release from AdventHealth.

Located at 2274 Alder Ave., the clinic brings together pediatric primary care, pediatric cardiology, pediatric orthopedics and women’s urogynecology services. The facility includes 24 treatment rooms, a pediatric X-ray room and spaces for children’s heart screenings.

Bringing care closer to families

Middleton, a master-planned community along Central Parkway, is home to approximately 1,200 families and households, many with residents who work in and around The Villages, according to the release.

For Jenny Trew, whose family was the first to move to Middleton, the new clinic could mean fewer long trips for routine appointments. She has been driving nearly an hour to Clermont for pediatric care for her 13-year-old twin sons, Jasen and Jackson.

“Going to the pediatrician usually means pulling both boys out of school, taking time away from work and making a day out of something that should be pretty simple,” Trew said in the release.

Having a pediatrician in the neighborhood will make it easier to balance health care appointments with work, school, sports and other activities, she said.

Dr. Vanessa Carroll, chief medical officer of AdventHealth for Children, said proximity matters when families are seeking care for a sick or injured child.

“Parents don’t want to take their child to just any doctor. They want someone they can trust, right around the corner,” Carroll said in the release. “Because when your child is sick or injured, an hour-long drive can feel even farther.”

Expanding women’s specialty services

The clinic also provides urogynecology services, including care for urinary incontinence and pelvic floor conditions.

The location gives women a nearby option for specialized treatment aimed at improving comfort, health and quality of life, according to AdventHealth.

“Women spend so much of their lives caring for others, and it can become very easy to put their own health last,” Kristen Toth, vice president of AdventHealth for Women, said in the release. “We want women to know there is care here for them, too.”

The clinic brings AdventHealth for Children and AdventHealth for Women together at one location to serve families through different stages of life.

Supporting students and schools

Middleton’s early childhood centers, two K-8 schools and high school collectively enroll more than 3,000 students, according to the release.

LeAnne Yerk, principal of The Villages Charter Elementary School, said access to nearby pediatric care supports students’ health and readiness to learn.

“As educators, we see firsthand that a child’s ability to learn, grow and thrive in the classroom is deeply connected to their health and well-being,” Yerk said in the release.

She described the clinic’s proximity to schools as an important resource for students and families, helping connect health care with educational support.

Location and appointments

The AdventHealth Middleton Multispecialty Clinic is located at 2274 Alder Ave., Middleton, Florida.

To schedule an appointment, call:

Pediatric primary care: 352-467-7862
Pediatric cardiology: 352-353-2788
Pediatric orthopedics: 407-303-5687
Women’s urogynecology: 407-303-1380

For online appointment information, visit MyMiddletonPediatrics.com for children’s services or MiddletonUrogyn.com for women’s services.

Business

GOAA Highlights Airport Improvements, Approves New Small Business Policies

Published

2 weeks ago

October 22, 2026

FNN NEWS

Gate Link train on an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with palm trees, airport buildings and a control tower behind it.

A Gate Link train travels along an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with the airport’s control tower in the background. Photo courtesy of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Terminal upgrades, parking projects and international connections mark the authority’s fiscal year review.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority highlighted terminal improvements, expanded international connections and parking projects during its fiscal 2026 review, while its board adopted changes to a local business program and announced a new statewide small business initiative.

The updates affect Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport, which GOAA operates.

“We are undertaking an ambitious effort to redefine what it means to deliver a world-class airport experience,” GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle said in the authority’s announcement.
“As we welcome more visitors, more airlines, more routes, and new programs, our responsibility is to elevate every part of the journey — making it more welcoming, intuitive, and connected.”

A Gate Link train travels along an elevated guideway at Orlando International Airport, with the airport’s control tower in the background. Photo courtesy of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Terminal Improvements Focus on Connections and Families

Among the completed projects was an enclosed pedestrian bridge with moving walkways connecting Orlando International Airport’s train station and Terminal C.

Terminal C also opened a new wing serving gates 250–254, providing additional capacity and becoming the new home for Virgin Atlantic’s airport operations.

Three new Family Zones — one in each terminal — offer spaces for children and families to play, read and recharge. GOAA also highlighted improvements to directional signs along airport roads, in parking areas and throughout the terminals.

Parking Expansion and $40 Million Improvement Program

GOAA reported progress on a parking guidance system at Terminal C, with phased activation across all garages planned through mid-2027.

Dedicated employee parking areas are intended to free additional spaces for travelers. Planning is also underway for two new garages expected to add 8,000 public parking spaces over the next few years.

Separately, the authority’s $40 million Beautiful Airports Program targets safety, functionality and appearance across garages, terminals and other airport areas.

Aviation Investments and International Service

The fiscal year review highlighted a $50 million investment by dnata, a $26 million redevelopment by Signature Aviation at Orlando International Airport and groundbreaking for Sky Harbour’s $40 million campus at Orlando Executive Airport.

International service developments included ZIPAIR’s nonstop passenger charter flights between Orlando and Tokyo and Iberia’s launch of nonstop service to Madrid.

GOAA described ZIPAIR’s service as the first passenger charter connection between Florida and the Asia-Pacific region.

Business Policy Changes Broaden Eligibility

The board adopted revisions to GOAA’s Local Developing Business program following research, town halls and discussions with internal experts.

The changes increase the allowable personal net worth threshold and clarify how assets are excluded from that calculation, including primary residence equity, business equity, retirement assets and certain nonliquid holdings.

Business size standards were also revised to account for inflation and increased operating costs. The announcement did not specify the updated financial thresholds.

A new Small Business program will complement the local program and extend eligibility to qualifying businesses throughout Florida. Under the announced framework, participating businesses must fall within 50% of the applicable U.S. Small Business Administration size standard.

GOAA said detailed guidelines for both programs would be posted on its website. Those guidelines will provide businesses with the information needed to assess eligibility.

Business

Florida Restaurant Show 2026: Orlando Event Features Chef Competitions, Pizza Innovation and Restaurant Solutions

Published

4 weeks ago

October 9, 2026

FNN NEWS

The combined events celebrate their 55th and fifth anniversaries Oct. 25–27 at the Orange County Convention Center, featuring education, culinary competitions and a $5,000 attendee giveaway.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Florida Restaurant Show and Pizza Tomorrow Summit are marking milestone anniversaries at the Orange County Convention Center, bringing restaurant, pizza and foodservice professionals together Oct. 25–27 for product demonstrations, education, culinary competitions and networking.

The Florida Restaurant Show is celebrating its 55th anniversary, while the Pizza Tomorrow Summit marks its fifth. One registration provides access to both events.

Organizer Restaurant Events announced a total of $5,000 in attendee giveaways during the three-day gathering. Attendees can pick up a ticket at registration for a chance to win.

Education Addresses Food Costs, Staffing and AI

More than 40 hours of education cover profitability, food costs, operations, marketing, artificial intelligence, staffing, leadership and customer engagement.

Featured programs include Restaurant Management 201 and 301, presented by Darren Denington, founder and operator of Service with Style, and Alison Anne, leader of Restaurant Revolution.

A new program, “The Wizard Behind the Curtain,” presented by Maverick Theory founder Michael Tipps, examines how owners and entrepreneurs develop restaurant concepts and turn ideas into businesses.

A Team Bundle Package offers savings and flexible attendance options for groups of six from the same organization, allowing employees to explore sessions relevant to their roles.

Culinary Competitions Spotlight Professional Chefs

The Sunshine Plate Challenge Arena features more than 30 professional chefs across four American Culinary Federation-sanctioned competitions, organizers said.

The announced schedule includes:

Sunday, Oct. 25: Student and professional pastry sculpture competitions and the Professional Pork Challenge.
Monday, Oct. 26: The Professional Seafood Challenge, sponsored by Bar Harbor Seafood.
Tuesday, Oct. 27: The Professional Beef Challenge.

The arena’s Sunday programming also includes the Hospitality School Showdown, featuring culinary faculty and alumni representing four Florida hospitality programs.

Unox sponsors the arena, with product support from Gordon Food Service, Bar Harbor Seafood, Expedition Provisions, Yukan Foods, Pizzacini and Keg Kraft Beverage Company.

Pizza Tomorrow Summit Highlights Industry Innovation

The Pizza Tomorrow Summit features education, demonstrations and competitions focused on the pizza industry.

Its announced Monday programming includes a live taping of the “So You Want to Run a Restaurant” podcast with California Pizza Kitchen co-founder Rick Rosenfield. The session, sponsored by Back of House, includes a discussion and giveaway of his book, “The California Pizza Kitchen Story.”

The U.S. Pizza Team and Galbani Professionale U.S. are also hosting the 2026 Galbani Professionale Pizza Cup. Pizza makers and pizza acrobats compete in culinary and acrobatic events, with grand-prize winners earning a trip to compete at the World Pizza Championships in Parma, Italy.

One Registration Connects Two Industries

By holding the events together, organizers give restaurant operators access to ideas emerging from the pizza industry while connecting pizzeria operators with equipment, technology and education relevant to the broader foodservice market.

The Florida Restaurant Show and Pizza Tomorrow Summit conclude Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Orange County Convention Center.