Behold (and this doesn't even include the outstanding goat cheeses we produce):
For the fourth consecutive year, California cow's milk cheese producers took home more awards than any other state in the cow's milk categories at the annual American Cheese Society (ACS) judging, winning a record 36 awards. This year, 116 North American specialty, artisan and farmstead cheese producers entered 726 cheeses in the competition, which acknowledges America's finest cheeses. The competition is part of the ACS annual conference, which was held July 22-24 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
We even beat you in Wisconsin!This year, California's cow's milk cheeses won 7 first-place, 14 second-place and 15 third-place awards. The 2004 results bring California's total to 118 awards in the cow's milk cheese categories since 2001.
California first-place winners included Belfiore Cheese Company, Berkeley, for Ricotta; Cantare Foods, San Diego, for Burrata; Cowgirl Creamery, Pt. Reyes, for Mt. Tam; Marin French Cheese Company, Petaluma, for Camembert; Fagundes Old World Cheese, Hanford, for Hanford Jack with Jalapeño and Maria's Panela; Karoun Dairies, Inc., Los Angeles, for Marinated String Cheese with Olive Oil and Herbs.
In all, 14 California cow's milk cheesemakers - almost half of the state's total number of cow's milk specialty cheese producers - received awards. Among the big winners were Fiscalini Farmstead Cheese with eight awards, Fagundes Old World Cheese with five awards, Cowgirl Creamery and Marin-French Cheese Company with four awards each, and Sierra Nevada Cheese Co. and Karoun Dairies, Inc., with three awards each.
"California continues to show it deserves its growing reputation as one of the country's preeminent fine cheesemaking regions," said Nancy Fletcher, California Milk Advisory Board Vice President of Communications. "The broad range of winners, representing so many different varieties and types of cheese, demonstrates the impressive diversity of talent that our state possesses."
California is the second largest cheese producing state and last year produced 1.8 billion pounds of cheese. The state has 60 cow's milk cheesemakers who produce more than 250 varieties and styles of cheese. Half of the state's cheesemakers are specialty, artisan or farmstead producers.
First-Place Awards:
Belfiore Cheese Company, Berkeley, CA
Ricotta, Fresh Unripened Cheese
Cantare Foods, Inc., San Diego, CA
Burrata, Fresh Unripened Cheese
Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes, CA
Mt. Tam, Soft Ripened Cheese
Fagundes Old World Cheese, Hanford, CA
Hanford Jack - Jalapeño, Monterey Jack with Flavors
Fagundes Old World Cheese, Hanford, CA
Maria's Panela, Hispanic & Portuguese Style Cheese
Karoun Dairies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Marinated String Cheese - Olive Oil/Herbs, Marinated Cheeses
Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, CA
Camembert, Soft Ripened Cheese
Second-Place Awards:
Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes, CA
Pierce Point, American Originals
Cowgirl Creamery, Point Reyes, CA
Fromage Blanc, Cultured Cheese Products
Fagundes Old World Cheese, Hanford, CA
Maria's Queso Fresco, Hispanic & Portuguese Style Cheese
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
Anunciata, Italian Type Cheese
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
Smoked Cheddar, Smoked Cheeses
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
Premium Reserve, Farmstead Cheeses
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
Purple Moon, Marinated Cheeses
Karoun Dairies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Feta, Feta Cheese
Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, CA
Triple Crème Brie, Soft Ripened Cheese
Mozzarella Fresca, Benicia, CA
Smoked Mozzarella, Smoked Cheeses
Sierra Nevada Cheese Co., Willows, CA
Sierra Jack Garlic, American Originals
Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, Petaluma, CA
Mike's Firehouse Cheddar, Flavored Cheddars
Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, Petaluma, CA
Sage Cheddar, Cheddars
Valley Gold, LLC., Gustine, CA
Part Skim Mozzarella, Italian Type Cheese
Third-Place Awards:
Cowgirl Creamery, Pt. Reyes, CA
Cottage Cheese, Cultured Cheese Products
Fagundes Old World Cheese, Hanford, CA
Hanford Jack - Smoke, Smoked Cheeses
Fagundes Old World Cheese, Hanford, CA
Hanford Jack - San Joaquin, Monterey Jack with Flavors
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
San Joaquin Cheddar - Young, Cheddars
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
San Joaquin Cheddar - Old, Cheddars
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
Cheddar with Dill, Farmstead Cheddars
Karoun Dairies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Mozzarella String Cheese, Italian Type Cheese
Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, CA
Brie, Soft Ripened Cheese
Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, CA
Peppercorn Brie, Soft Ripened Cheese
Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc., Riverbank, CA
Oaxaca, Hispanic & Portuguese Style Cheese
Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc., Riverbank, CA
Queso Fresco, Hispanic & Portuguese Style Cheese
Sierra Cheese Manufacturing Co, Inc., Compton, CA
Feta, Feta Cheese
Sierra Nevada Cheese Co., Petaluma, CA
Cream Cheese, Fresh Unripened Cheese
Valley Gold, LLC., Gustine, CA
Smoked Provolone, Smoked Cheddars
Winchester Cheese Co., Winchester, CA
Jalapeño Gouda, Flavored Cheeses
2004 World Cheese AwardsCalifornia cow's milk cheesemakers made a strong showing at the 2004 World Cheese Awards (WCA), an international annual competition held in London. California won seven awards, including prizes in categories where Europeans usually dominate, such as Cheddar and Brie. This confirms the state's fast-growing reputation as a high-quality cheese producer.
Gold Awards
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
San Joaquin Gold, Class 56 (Hard pressed cheese other than Cheddar and other UK territorials)
Silver Awards
Valley Gold, LLC., Gustine, CA
Ricotta, Class 12a (Ricotta)
Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, CA
Brie, Class 14b (Brie made from pasteurized milk)
Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, CA
Triple Crème Brie, 14b (Brie made from pasteurized milk)
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
Cheddar, Class 42 (Vintage farmhouse cheddar made before April 1, 2003)
Bronze Awards
Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, CA
Pacific Blue, 59b (New cheese, blue, first marketed after Dec. 1, 2003)
Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, CA
Anuciata, Class 60 (Cheese produced on a farm or dairy with a total output not exceeding a weekly average of two tonnes)
2004 World Championship Cheese ContestCheesemakers from California earned eight awards this year: three first-place awards, four second-place awards, and one third place award at the biennial World Cheese Championship judging, held in Wisconsin in March.
First Place Awards
Cantare Foods, Inc., San Diego, CA
Fresh Bocconcini Cantare, Fresh Mozzarella
Cantare Foods, Inc., San Diego, CA
Ricotta, Open Class Soft Cheese
Karoun Dairies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Queso Blanco, Queso Frescos
Second-Place Awards
Dairy Farmers of America, Turlock, CA
Monterey Jack, Monterey Jack
Cantare Foods, Inc., San Diego, CA
Fresh Ovoline d'Celli, Fresh Mozzarella
Karoun Dairies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
Queso Fresco, Queso Frescos
Vella Cheese Co., Sonoma, CA
Toma, Open Class Semi-Soft Cheese
Third-Place Awards
Cantare Foods, Inc., San Diego, CA
Fresh Ovoline Cantare, Fresh Mozzarella
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