California Cheese and Dairy Producers Win a total of 53 Awards in Annual Celebration of North American Makers
TRACY, Calif. – July 12, 2024 – Cow’s milk cheese and dairy processors that use the Real California Milk seal brought home 31 awards during the 2024 annual cheese competition held by the American Cheese Society (ACS) in Buffalo, New York.
The American Cheese Society recognizes the finest cheeses and dairy products made in the Americas. A total of 1,596 cheese and cultured dairy products were entered into the competition. Cheeses made with California cow’s milk had a strong showing this year in a field of 142 organizations representing North America.
California cheesemakers won a total of 53 awards – with Real California cow’s milk cheeses bringing home 31 prizes: 8 first place, 11 second place and 12 third place awards in this year’s judging. Highlights from these wins include:
• Central Valley Cheese/Karoun, Turlock – 6 awards, 1st place each for Smoked String Cheese and Honey Yogurt; 2nd each for Labne, Whole Milk Yogurt and Yogurt Thirumala; and 3rd for Marinated String Cheese.
• Marquez Brothers International, San Jose – 5 awards, 1st place each for Mango Drinkable Yogurt and Guava Drinkable Yogurt; 2nd place for Strawberry Drinkable Yogurt; and 3rd place each for Strawberry Banana Drinkable Yogurt and Piña Colada Drinkable Yogurt.
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Pt. Reyes – 4 awards, 1st place for Toma Truffle; 2nd place for Truffle Brie; and 3rd place each for Bay Blue and Fennel Blue.
Real California Cheeses…Page 2 of 2
An instrumentality of the Department of Food & Agriculture, State of California
• Marin French Cheese, Petaluma – 3 awards, 2nd place each for Camembert and Petite Breakfast; 3rd place for Petite Truffle.
• Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Willows – 3 awards, 1st place for Gina Marie Cream Cheese; 3rd place each for Organic Unsalted Butter and Plain Yogurt.
• Fiscalini Farmstead, Modesto – 2 awards, 2nd place each for Old World Cheddar and Truffle Cheddar.
• Rumiano Cheese Company, Crescent City – 2 awards, 2nd place for Dry Jack; 3rd place for Organic Original Ghee.
• Belfiore Cheese Company, Berkeley – 1 award, 3rd place for Farmer’s Cheese.
• Bellwether Farmers, Petaluma – 1 award, 1st place for Crème Fraîche.
• Cheese Bits, Riverbank – 1 award, 3rd place for Wood Smoked Mozzamini Pearls.
• Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma – 1 award, 2nd place for Wagon Wheel.
• Joseph Farms, Atwater – 1 award, 1st place for Monterey Jack.
• Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, Nicasio – 1 award, 3rd place for Halleck Creek.
In total, 13 Real California cow’s milk cheese and dairy companies won awards for products made with Real California Milk from the state’s more than 1,100 family dairy farms using some of the most sustainable dairy practices in the world. Sierra Nevada Cheese Company and Bellwether Farms also received awards, four and one respectively, for non-cow’s milk cheeses that do not carry the Real California Milk seal.
Non cow’s milk California cheesemakers had a strong showing with Laura Chenel picking up seven awards, Cypress Grove and Shooting Star Creamery each winning three, and Central Coast Creamery and Pennyroyal Farm winning two each.
California is the second largest cheese producing state in the nation, responsible for more than 2.4 billion pounds of cheese. Real California cheeses and dairy products are available at retailers throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Asia. For more information, visit: RealCaliforniaMilk.com. For more information on ACS competition winners and the ACS Conference, go to cheesesociety.org.
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About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board
The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world. Connect with the CMAB at RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.