California Cow’s Milk Processors Score 68 Wins at California State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition

TRACY, Calif. – July 6, 2017 – California cow’s milk processors that use the Real California Cheese and Milk seals brought home 68 awards from the 2017 annual cheese competition held by California State Fair, in Sacramento. Cheesemaker – Pt. Reyes Farmstead Cheese was nominated as Best of Show Cow’s Milk Cheese and Best of California Cow’s Milk Cheese during the annual event. Two cheesemakers – Bellwether Farms, LLC and Fiscalini Cheese Co., were nominated as Best of California Cow’s Milk Cheese.

California cow’s milk cheeses that use the Real California seals won 19 first-place, 32 second-place and 17 third-place awards in this year’s judging. Highlights from these wins include:

• Bellwether Farms, LLC, Valley Ford, 1^st for Crème Fraiche, Cultured Cheese – Crème Fraiche
• California Dairies Inc., Visalia, 2^nd for Real Cream Cheese, Soft Cheese – Cream Cheese
• Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, 1^st for Bandage Wrapped Cheddar, Semi-Hard Cheese – Aged Cheddar
• Joseph Gallo Farms, Awater, 2^nd for Mozzarella, Semi-Soft Cheese – Pasta Filata
• Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, 1^st for Petite Cendrée, Semi-Soft Cheese – White Surface Mold – Brie
• Marquez Brothers International, Inc., Hanford, 1^st for Queso Oaxaca, Semi-Soft Cheese – Hispanic Style
• Nicasio Valley Cheese Co., San Rafael, 1^st for Locarno, Semi-Soft Cheese – White Surface Mold – Open
• Orland Farmstead Creamery, Orland, 2^nd for Ricottage, California Originals – Cow Milk
• Point Reyes Farmstead, Point Reyes, 1^st for Point Reyes Bay Blue, Semi-Soft Cheese – Blue Veined Cheese
• Queso Salazar, Brentwood, 2^nd for Queso Fresco, Semi-Soft Cheese – Hispanic Style
• Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Willows, 1^st for Organic Traditional Jack Cheese, Semi-Hard Cheese – Monterey Jack
• Stuyt Dairy Farmstead Cheese Co., Escalon, 1^st for Habanero Gouda Cheese, Semi-Hard Cheese – Open Category

California dairy means real food from real people. Consumers can look for the Real California Milk and Cheese seals on dairy brands throughout the U.S. These seals ensure they are made with 100 percent milk produced by more than 1,300 Real California dairy farm families.

For more information on California State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition, go to: http://www.castatefair.org/california-commercial-cheese/.