Real California Cow’s Milk Cheeses Bring Home 31 Awards at American Cheese Society Meeting

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, NY.

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, represented by 142 North American organizations.

California cheesemakers won a total of 53 awards – with Real California cow’s milk cheeses bringing home 31 prizes: eight 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 – six awards, 1^st place each for Smoked String Cheese and Honey Yogurt; 2^nd each for Labne, Whole Milk Yogurt and Yogurt Thirumala; and 3^rd for Marinated String Cheese.
• Marquez Brothers International, San Jose – five awards, 1^st place each for Mango Drinkable Yogurt and Guava Drinkable Yogurt; 2^ndplace for Strawberry Drinkable Yogurt; and 3^rd place each for Strawberry Banana Drinkable Yogurt and Piña Colada Drinkable Yogurt.
• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Pt. Reyes – four awards, 1^st place for Toma Truffle; 2^nd place for Truffle Brie; and 3^rd place each for Bay Blue and Fennel Blue.
• Marin French Cheese, Petaluma – three awards, 2^nd place each for Camembert and Petite Breakfast; 3^rd place for Petite Truffle.
• Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Willows – three awards, 1^st place for Gina Marie Cream Cheese; 3^rd place each for Organic Unsalted Butter and Plain Yogurt.
• Fiscalini Farmstead, Modesto – two awards, 2^nd place each for Old World Cheddar and Truffle Cheddar.
• Rumiano Cheese Company, Crescent City – two awards, 2^nd place for Dry Jack; 3^rd place for Organic Original Ghee.
• Belfiore Cheese Company, Berkeley – one award, 3^rd place for Farmer’s Cheese.
• Bellwether Farmers, Petaluma – one award, 1^st place for Crème Fraîche.
• Cheese Bits, Riverbank – one award, 3^rd place for Wood Smoked Mozzamini Pearls.
• Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma – one award, 2^nd place for Wagon Wheel.
• Joseph Farms, Atwater – one award, 1^st place for Monterey Jack.
• Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, Nicasio – one award, 3^rd 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 US, Mexico and Asia. For more information, visit: Real California Milk. For more information on ACS competition winners and the ACS Conference, go to Cheese Society.