Kalona SuperNatural took home first-place for its 100% grass-fed vanilla kefir and second-place for its buttermilk, both in the cultured dairy category at the Iowa State Fair. 

Additionally, Kalona SuperNatural received second-place for its lightly salted butter, in the butter category. 

The award-winning, nationally recognized organic dairy competed against more than 60 other products, earning them the top spot in the Iowa Quality Dairy Products Contest.

“At Kalona SuperNatural, we pride ourselves on our old-school processing methods,” Sara Rissi, Kalona SuperNatural sales and marketing coordinator, said. “This approach contributes to the reasons our products continue to win top accolades and awards each year.

“We’re honored to work with a wonderful group of local, organic farmers who ‘do things right’ and take pride in the high-quality product they produce.”

The Quality Dairy Products Contest panel of judges consisted of leaders in the grocery industry, food scientists and researchers from Iowa. 

“The judges were extremely impressed with our vanilla kefir and the grass-fed notes of our butter, which explains why we received top recognition,” Rissi said. 

Notable judging remarks described Kalona SuperNatural vanilla kefir as, “the perfect aroma of butter and vanilla, very smooth texture on the palate, well-balanced.” 

In addition, the panel gave top marks for the butter for its “clean aroma, soft, smooth, delicate flavor from pasture-grazed cows.”