TRACY, CALIF. – The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) shared that the state’s cheesemakers secured 53 awards overall at the 2024 American Cheese Society (ACS) Judging & Competition.

CMAB noted that cheese and diary processors who use the Real California Milk seal accounted for 31 of those awards – eight first place, 11 second place and 12 third place across various categories.

The top cow’s milk ACS winners from the Golden State were Turlock, Calif.-based Central Valley Cheese/Karoun Dairies, which won six awards, and San Jose’s Marquez Brothers International, which finished with five.

Award-winning California dairy processors included:

• Central Valley Cheese/Karoun – first for Smoked String Cheese and Honey Yogurt; second for Labne, Whole Milk Yogurt and Yogurt Thirumala; and third for Marinated String Cheese.

• Marquez Brothers International – first for Mango Drinkable Yogurt and Guava Drinkable Yogurt; second for Strawberry Drinkable Yogurt; and third for Banana Drinkable Yogurt and Piña Colada Drinkable Yogurt.

• Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Pt. Reyes, Calif. – first for Toma Truffle; second for Truffle Brie; and third for Bay Blue and Fennel Blue.

• Sierra Nevada Cheese Company, Willows, Calif. – first for Gina Marie Cream Cheese, and third for Organic Unsalted Butter and Plain Yogurt.

• Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif. – second for Camembert and Petite Breakfast, and third for Petite Truffle.

• Fiscalini Farmstead, Modesto, Calif. – second for Old World Cheddar and Truffle Cheddar.

• Rumiano Cheese Company, Crescent City, Calif. – second for Dry Jack, and third for Organic Original Ghee.

• Bellwether Farms, Petaluma – first for Crème Fraîche.

• Joseph Farms, Atwater – first for Monterey Jack.

• Cowgirl Creamery, Petaluma – second for Wagon Wheel.

• Belfiore Cheese Company, Berkeley, Calif. – third for Farmer's Cheese.

• Cheese Bits, Riverbank, Calif. – third for Wood Smoked Mozzamini Pearls.

• Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, Nicasio, Calif. – third for Halleck Creek.

CMAB also pointed out that Sierra Nevada Cheese Company won four awards for non-cow’s milk cheese, while Bellwether Farms won one such award.

Additionally, award-winning California cheesemakers who produce non-cow’s milk products included goat cheese specialists Laura Chenel (seven awards) and Cypress Grove (three), Shooting Star Creamery (three), Central Coast Creamery (two) and Pennyroyal Farm (two).