Real California Cow’s Milk Cheeses Win 31 Awards at American Cheese Society Meeting in Buffalo, New York

California Cheese and Dairy Producers Win 53 Total Cheeses at Annual Celebration of North American Producers

TRACY, California, July 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cow’s milk cheeses and dairy processors using the Real California Milk label won 31 awards at the American Cheese Society’s (ACS) 2024 Annual Cheese Competition in Buffalo, New York State.

The American Cheese Society recognizes the best cheeses and dairy products made in the Americas. A total of 1,596 cheeses and fermented dairy products were entered into the competition. Cheeses made with California Cow’s milk had a strong presence this year among 142 organizations representing North America.

California Cheesemakers won a total of 53 awards, including 31 for California cow’s milk cheeses: 8 first places, 11 second places and 12 third places in this year’s judging. Highlights of the wins included:

• Cheese from the Central Valley/Karoun, Turlock – 6 prizes, 1^st place each for smoked cheese and honey yogurt; 2^nd each for Labne, whole milk yogurt and Thirumala yogurt; and 3^rd for marinated string cheese.
• Marquez Brothers International, San Jose – 5 prizes, 1^st place each for the mango drinking yogurt and the guava drinking yogurt; 2^nd room for strawberry drinkable yogurt; and 3^rd Place each strawberry and banana drinking yogurt and the piña colada drinking yogurt.
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Pt. Reyes – 4 awards, 1^st room for Toma truffle; 2^nd room for the Brie with Truffles; and 3^rd place each for Bay Blue and Fennel Blue.
• French Marine Cheese, Petaluma – 3 prizes, 2^nd place each for Camembert and Breakfast; 3^rd Make way for the Little Truffle.
• Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Willows – 3 awards, 1^st room for Gina Marie cream cheese; 3^rd each place for organic unsalted butter and plain yogurt.
• Fiscalini Farm, Modesto – 2 prizes, 2^nd place each for Old World Cheddar and Truffle Cheddar.
• Rumiano Cheese Factory, The Crescent City – 2 prizes, 2^nd place for Dry Jack; 3^rd place for original organic ghee.
• Belfiore Cheese Factory, Berkeley – 1 prize, 3^rd place for farmhouse cheese.
• Indicator farmers, Petaluma – 1 prize, 1^st Make way for Crème Fraîche.
• Cheese Chunks, Riverbank – 1 prize, 3^rd Make way for wood-smoked mozzarella pearls.
• Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma – 1 prize, 2^nd place for the cart wheel.
• Joseph Farms, Atwater – 1 prize, 1^st room for Monterey Jack.
• Nicasio Valley Cheese Factory, Nicasio – 1 prize, 3^rd Place for Halleck Stream.

In total, 13 California cow’s milk cheese and dairy companies won awards for their products made with California milk from more than 1,100 family-owned dairy farms in the state that use 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 their non-cow’s milk cheeses that do not carry the Real California Milk label.

Without cow’s milk California The cheesemakers made a good showing with Laura Chenel winning seven awards, with Cypress Grove and Shooting Star Creamery each winning three, and Central Coast Creamery and Pennyroyal Farm each winning two.

California is the second largest cheese-producing state in the country, responsible for more than 2.4 billion pounds of cheese. California Cheese and dairy products are available at retailers throughout the United States, MexicoAnd Asia. For more information, visit: RealCaliforniaMilk.com. For more information on the ACS contest winners and the ACS conference, visit cheesesociety.org.

About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board
The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an agency of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farming families who are leading the way in sustainable dairy farming practices in the country. With the goal of feeding the world with the wholesome goodness of real California milk, CMAB’s programs aim to increase demand for quality milk. California sustainable dairy products in the state, across the United States and around the world. Connect with CMAB on RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, TwitterInstagram and Pinterest.

SOURCE California Milk Advisory Board