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Champion of the Cheese Valley, the famous Chèvrerie des Sommets is shaken by an unprecedented scandal. The ground trembles under the weight of this revelation: the goat star, Billy “the Bearded” is not a true local.
For a long time, the AOP label (Appellation of Picturesque Origin) has guaranteed the quality and authenticity of local cheeses. But a thunderbolt has shaken the agricultural community this week: Billy, the iconic goat of the Sommets, whose milk is used for the famous Chèvre des Cimes, is said to not be from the Cheese Valley.
“This is a real blow for all of us,” says Jean-Pierre Fondu, the mayor of the village Les Alpages, tears in his eyes. “We thought Billy was one of ours. The indications are clear: if the livestock is not born in the Valley, the AOP cannot be granted. This is a betrayal of our community and our traditions.”
The scandal erupted when Gustave Grosmatou, a long-time rival and sheep farmer, noticed distinct marks on Billy during the last Agricultural Fair. “Those marks are made by those up there, up in the Gray Mountain. I knew right away that something was off,” he recounted.
Billy’s breeder, Claude LaChevrière, has found himself under the spotlight and is accused of deliberately deceiving the community. “It’s ridiculous! Billy is as local as the raclette from the Cimes. Gustave’s accusations are as hollow as his cheese!” he defended himself.
Pending a resolution, the local Cheese Council has suspended the AOP of the Chèvre des Cimes, plunging the Valley into an unprecedented crisis. Sales have plummeted and trust in the local label is shaken. The case, now known as the “Billy Affair,” continues to make waves throughout the region and beyond.
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