Now That's How to Sell Cheese

HOPING TO INCREASE sales and 'smash the unflattering stereotype of the frumpy French farm wife,' the Association of Traditional French Cheese Makers (l’Association Fromages de Terroirs) has unveiled the 2010 Fromage Girls pin-up calendar. Local cheese makers support the calendar initiative in part because it brings customers directly to the manufacturers instead of going through a big distributor. More details (and photos, Jim) can be found at the Fromages-de-Terroirs website.

The website advertises the calendar as having '12 jeunes femmes s’amusent du fromage en le mettant des situations inattendues.' Very roughly translated, that means 12 young women play around with cheese in unusual situations. I guess I don't quite understand because I find nothing unusual about the photo on the left. Don't all cheesemakers routinely taste their products while wearing small, white, unbuttoned shirts?

The site also explains that goal of the photographs in the calendar: 'two images are contrasted: that of a sexy and sensual woman and that of cheese.' Let me just repeat that so it sinks in: 'two images are contrasted: that of a sexy and sensual woman and that of cheese.'

Let's see: I see a 'sexy and sensual woman' and I see what is probably a very stinky cheese. Yep, they acheived contrast. Well done. Put me down for two.