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Paramus, NJ – June 2022 – Gayo Azul®, the famous Caribbean Hispanic cheesemakers with a Dutch influence, is introducing their new Gayo Azul Cotija Cheese just in time for the Summer Fancy Food Show at Booth #551, June 12-14, located at the Jacob K. Javits Center, New York, NY.

Gayo Azul is a Caribbean brand with a strong Dutch influence and a rich history dating back to the 1950s. Dutch cheeses gained quick popularity in the Caribbean due to their ability to retain freshness without the need for refrigeration. Seeing the demand for such cheeses, Gayo Azul began creating their own. Starting as a small company in the Caribbean, Gayo Azul entered the US market in the 1960s and has been growing across the country ever since. Drawing on the rich heritage of both Dutch and Hispanic cheesemaking, Gayo Azul emphasizes authentic flavor and premium quality above all else. The brand is a multi-generational kitchen staple, recognizable by its Blue Rooster logo—Blue Rooster being the English translation of Gayo Azul. The famous Blue Rooster has come to be known as a symbol of outstanding quality cheeses by the community. 

The new Gayo Azul Cotija is sure to satisfy fans of cheese and Hispanic dishes alike, adding a sharp, slightly salty flavor and a crumbly texture to a variety of dishes. Cotija is a Mexican-style aged, fresh cow’s milk cheese named after the Mexican town of Cotija. Cotija cheese is a perfect topping for enhancing any dish, like street corn, enchiladas, tacos, sandwiches, and more. Gayo Azul Cotija cheese is available exclusively in wedge form. 

Gayo Azul Cotija joins all varieties which include: 

• Gayo Azul Dutch Gouda – this versatile mild and creamy cheese is excellent on a cheeseboard, in a casserole, as a topping or used in sauces and soups. Also available in slices it is delicious on cold sandwich or melts beautifully in a hot one.  
• Gayo Azul Queso Blanco – a fresh mild white cheese that holds its shape well, making it ideal for pan grilling.  It also has a nice crumbly texture and is great for topping salads, soups, and tacos.  
• Gayo Azul Dutch Edam – this cheese is a bit firmer than Gouda yet has a rich flavor and smooth creamy texture.  Easy to cut on cheese boards, shred in baking dishes, and cube in salads and vegetable dishes.  
• Gayo Azul Sliced Swiss – a rindless, European Swiss with perfect eyes and a sweet nutty taste that works on both cold and grilled sandwiches.  

“We’re delighted to be showcasing our new Cotija cheese at this Summer’s Fancy Food Show,” says Debbie Seife, Marketing Director of FrieslandCampina, the parent company of Gayo Azul. “The rich flavor of our new Gayo Azul Cotija cheese provides a deliciously salty, milky flavor that is sure to turn it into a staple in our fans’ recipes,” she adds.

The uses for Gayo Azul Cotija cheese include: 

• Street Corn — also known as Elote, or Grilled Mexican Street Corn; this dish is made by covering corn on the cob with lime juice, mayonnaise, chili powder, and Gayo Azul® Cotija cheese. 
• Enchiladas — enhance by sprinkling crumbles of Gayo Azul Cotija cheese over the tortillas minutes before removing them from the oven. 
• Tacos — add flavor and texture by using Gayo Azul Cotija cheese instead of shredded cheese for an authentic touch. 
• And so much more! 

For more information about Gayo Azul and its products, to find where cheeses are available near you, and to discover new recipe ideas, visit www.gayoazul.com or follow them on Facebook (@gayoazulcheese) and Instagram (@gayo_azul_cheese). 

Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.

Royal Hollandia is a registered trademark of the Royal FrieslandCampina. Royal FrieslandCampina daily provides millions of consumers spread all over the world with dairy products containing valuable nutrients from milk. The products of FrieslandCampina find their ways to over a hundred countries. The company has its Central Office in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. The activities of FrieslandCampina have been divided into four global market-oriented business groups, being Consumer Dairy, Specialized Nutrition, Dairy Essentials, and Ingredients. The company is fully owned by Zuivelcoöperatie FrieslandCampina U.A., which has 16,995-member dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium and is one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the world. For additional information, please visit our website: www.frieslandcampina.com.

About the Specialty Food Association

The Specialty Food Association (SFA) has been the leading trade association and source of information about the $170.4 billion specialty food industry for 70 years. Founded in 1952 in New York City, the SFA represents manufacturers, importers, retailers, distributors, brokers, and others in the trade. The SFA is known for its Fancy Food Shows; the sofi™ Awards, which have honored excellence in specialty food and beverage for 50 years; the Trendspotter Panel Show reports and annual predictions; the State of the Specialty Food Industry Report and Today's Specialty Food Consumer research; the ecommerce enabled SFA Product Marketplace, where members showcase products and sell directly to qualified buyers; SFA Feed, the daily source for industry news, trends and new product information, and Spill & Dish: A Specialty Food Association Podcast.

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