IF YOU THINK the French didn't approve of the war in Iraq, you should see how they feel about the War on Roquefort.It was quite a parting shot from the Bush Administration. One that they are talking about a lot in the small village of Roquefort-Sur-Soulzon in Southern France. On Jan 13th the Bush Administration -- as it was heading out the door -- revealed that it was slapping a 300% tax on authentic Roquefort cheese – the delightfully fragrant (it smells like wet sheep), creamy, tangy cheese that has made the Société des Caves de Roquefort famous. In effect, this tariff makes it virtually impossible for Americans to get authentic Roquefort cheese.
The United States' decision to tax Roquefort comes as a reaction to a European Union ban on US beef containing hormones. (What, you didn't think countries could be petty?) Now the French are all upset and vowing to increase their own consumption of Roquefort in order to make up for what they will lose in American consumption. (I can just imagine plats de jour all over France in the comming weeks: Roquefort salad, Pasta with Roquefort, Roquefort mousse for dessert, and after dinner coffee with a slab or Roquefort -- 35 Euros).
To be fair, the US government didn't only target Roquefort cheese, they also placed heavy tariffs on French truffles, Irish oatmeal, and Italian sparkling water, to name a few.
But it's the 600 residents of the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon that are most concerned. Most of them come from families that have made cheese for literally centuries -- it's a way of life. Luckily, only a relatively small percentage of their cheese goes to the US (Spain is, by far, the biggest importer). And, of course, Americans will still be able to buy Roquefort cheese in the supermarkets -- although it will be a domestically produced imitation and it may be sold under the label 'Freedom Cheese.'
CJS
4 comments :
Your title for this post cracked me up. :)
I think it should be called "tax-a-licious"
The milk from my grand parents and uncle's sheep from their farm in the Tarn went up every day for decades to Roquefort for making this wonderful cheese. The Roquefort cheese cooperative would send trucks to pick up the milk containers that were left at the end of the road for them to pick up. The trucks still come daily to the village but they are retired the sheep are gone. Michel
a very interesting post and a good point to make!
Sarah Sofia
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