Dairy Award Criteria

Overall Best Milk Quality Award

  1. Time Period
    For the State Fair starting in August 2024, the judging will be based on the VSL samples processed from July 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.

  2. Eligible Plants
    The plants to be included in the State Fair judging must fulfill the following requirements:

    • The plant is located in New York State.
    • The plant had at least 2 VSL samplings in the time period described above.
    • Each sampling included at least 3 Core samples at different fat levels.
  3. Scoring
    Samples are scored on 2 categories: Bacteria and Flavor.

    • Bacteria - Each sample can earn up to 3 points:
      1. Day 14 Standard Plate Count less or equal to 20,000 (~4.30 log) CFU/mL
      2. Day 14 Standard Plate Count less or equal to 1,000,000 (6 log) CFU/mL
      3. CVTA Counts below detection limit (typically < 20 CFU/mL) for all test days up to Day 14.
    • Flavor - Each sample can earn up to 2 points:
      1. Day Initial flavor score greater or equal to 8.0
      2. Day 14 flavor score greater or equal to 7.0
  4. Calculation
    The total number of points earned for Bacteria and Flavor are determined, divided by the number of possible points for that category, multiplied by 50 for both Bacteria and Flavor, and added together. This produces the score as a number between 0 (lowest) and 100 (highest).
    Score out of 100 = (points earned for bacteria X 50)/(No. of sample X 3) + (points earned for flavor X 50)/(No. of samples X 2)

  5. Awards
    The 2 plants with the highest scores will receive awards at the State Fair.

Small Processor Award

  1. Time Period
    For the State Fair starting in August 2024, the judging will be based on the VSL samples processed from July 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.

  2. Eligible Plants
    The plants to be included in the State Fair judging must fulfill the following requirements:

    • The plant is located in New York State.
    • The plant does not meet the eligibility requirements for the Overall Best Milk Quality Award.
    • The plant submitted at least 6 Core samples in the time period described above.
    • At least 1sample of every fat level the plant produces is submitted per year.
      • The samples to be included will be prioritized by the following sizes: Half gallon, then by largest size (i.e., Gal, quart, single serve).
    • The plant’s annual fluid milk production weight, according to the most recent data available from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, is less than 10 million (10^7) lbs.
  3. Scoring
    Samples are scored on 2 categories: Bacteria and Flavor.

    • Bacteria - Each sample can earn up to 3 points:
      1. Day 14 Standard Plate Count less or equal to 20,000 (~4.30 log) CFU/mL
      2. Day 14 Standard Plate Count less or equal to 1,000,000 (6 log) CFU/mL
      3. CVTA Counts below detection limit (typically < 20 CFU/mL) for all test days up to Day 14.
    • Flavor - Each sample can earn up to 2 points:
      1. Day Initial flavor score greater or equal to 8.0
      2. Day 14 flavor score greater or equal to 7.0
  4. Calculation
    The total number of points earned for Bacteria and Flavor are determined, divided by the number of possible points for that category, multiplied by 75 for Bacteria and 25 for Flavor, and added together. This produces the score as a number between 0 (lowest) and 100 (highest).
    Score out of 100 = (points earned for bacteria X 75)/(No. of sample X 3) + (points earned for flavor X 25)/(No. of samples X 2)

  5. Award
    The plant with the highest score will receive an award at the State Fair.

 

Best Chocolate Milk Award

  1. Time Period
    For the State Fair starting in August 2024, the judging will be based on the VSL samples processed from July 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.

  2. Eligible Plants
    The plants to be included in the State Fair judging must fulfill the following requirements:

    • The plant is located in New York State.
    • The plant had at least 2 VSL samplings in the time period described above.
    • The plant submitted at least 4 chocolate milk samples in the time period described above.
  3. Scoring
    Samples are scored on 2 categories: Bacteria and Flavor.

    • Bacteria - Each sample can earn up to 3 points:
      1. Day 14 Standard Plate Count less or equal to 20,000 (~4.30 log) CFU/mL
      2. Day 14 Standard Plate Count less or equal to 1,000,000 (6 log) CFU/mL
      3. CVTA Counts below detection limit (typically < 20 CFU/mL) for all test days up to Day 14.
    • Flavor - Each sample can earn up to 2 points:
      1. Day Initial flavor score greater or equal to 8.0
      2. Day 14 flavor score greater or equal to 7.0
  4. Calculation
    The total number of points earned for Bacteria and Flavor are determined, divided by the number of possible points for that category, multiplied by 50 for both Bacteria and Flavor, and added together. This produces the score as a number between 0 (lowest) and 100 (highest).
    Score out of 100 = (points earned for bacteria X 50)/(No. of sample X 3) + (points earned for flavor X 50)/(No. of samples X 2)

  5. Award
    The plant with the highest score will receive an award at the State Fair.

Best Flavored Milk Award

  1. Time Period
    For the State Fair starting in August 2024, the judging will be based on the VSL samples processed from July 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.

  2. Eligible Plants
    The plants to be included in the State Fair judging must fulfill the following requirements:

    • The plant is located in New York State.
    • The plant had at least 2 VSL samplings in the time period described above.
    • The plant submitted at least 4 flavored (non-chocolate) milk samples in the time period described above.
  3. Scoring
    Samples are scored on 2 categories: Bacteria and Flavor.

    • Bacteria - Each sample can earn up to 3 points:
      1. Day 14 Standard Plate Count less or equal to 20,000 (~4.30 log) CFU/mL
      2. Day 14 Standard Plate Count less or equal to 1,000,000 (6 log) CFU/mL
      3. CVTA Counts below detection limit (typically < 20 CFU/mL) for all test days up to Day 14.
    • Flavor - Each sample can earn up to 2 points:
      1. Day Initial flavor score greater or equal to 8.0
      2. Day 14 flavor score greater or equal to 7.0
  4. Calculation
    The total number of points earned for Bacteria and Flavor are determined, divided by the number of possible points for that category, multiplied by 50 for both Bacteria and Flavor, and added together. This produces the score as a number between 0 (lowest) and 100 (highest).
    Score out of 100 = (points earned for bacteria X 50)/(No. of sample X 3) + (points earned for flavor X 50)/(No. of samples X 2)

  5. Award
    The plant with the highest score will receive an award at the State Fair.