California Cheesemakers take an active role in manufacturing, excelling, and entering contests for their products.

Here are some facts about California Cheeses Industry and the types of cheeses produced.

The American Cheese Society (ACS) hosts North America's a world-renowned cheese judging and competition. The ACS Conference & Competition – a gathering of cheesemakers, merchandisers, retailers, distributors, academicians, food writers, and enthusiasts from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe celebrates American artisan, farmstead, and specialty cheese.

More than 750 individuals attended the 2011 conference in Montréal – the first ever held outside of the United States. The 2011 Judging & Competition saw a record number of entries: 1,676 cheeses and cultured milk products from 258 different companies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.


AG: Open Category made from goat's milk
3rd Meyenberg Goat Milk Products, CA - Meyenberg Crème de Chevre

AS: Open Category made from sheep's milk or mixed milks
3rd Bellwether Farms, CA - Ricotta – Sheep Milk

AQ: Fromage Blanc, Fromage Frais and Quark – made from cow's milk
2nd Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, CA - Foggy Morning
3rd Cowgirl Creamery, CA - Fromage Blanc

BS: Open Category made from sheep's or mixed milks
3rd Marin French Cheese Co, CA - Melange Brie

BF: Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasoning, fruits, etc.
1st Marin French Cheese Co, CA - Peppercorn Brie – Garlic

CD: Dry Jack
1st Petaluma Creamery/ Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, CA - Dry Jack
2nd Rumiano Cheese Company, CA -Dry Monterey Jack

CC: Original Recipe / Open Category made from cow's milk

1st Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, CA- Point Reyes Toma
2nd Cowgirl Creamery, CA- Mt. Tam

CG: Original Recipe / Open Category made from goat's milk
3rd Cypress Grove Chevre, CA - Humboldt Fog Grande

DD: Dutch style – all milks (Gouda, Edam etc.)
2nd Oakdale Cheese & Specialties, CA- Gouda

EG: Cheddar from goat's milk, aged less than 12 months
1st Central Coast Creamery, CA - Goat Cheddar
2nd Meyenberg Goat Milk Products, CA- Meyenberg Valley Goat Cheddar

G. HISPANIC & PORTUGUESE STYLE CHEESES
Cheeses based on the recipes of the Azorean, Brazilian, Central American, Colombian, Cuban, Guatemalan, Hispanic, Latino, Mexican and Portuguese communities
GA: Ripened category – Cotija, Flamingo Bolla, Freir, Queso Prato, Queso Añejo, Chihuahua, etc. – all milks
3rd Karoun Dairies Inc., CA- Cotija

GC: Fresh Unripened category – Queso Blanco (including Queso de Puna and Campesino), Queijo Blanco, Açoreano, Quesadilla, Queso Crema, Queso Andino – all milks
2nd Karoun Dairies Inc., CA - Queso Blanco
3rd Karoun Dairies Inc., CA - Panela

HA: Grating types – Reggianito, Sardo, Domestic
Parmesan – all milks; (Romano made only from cow's or goat's milk and not from sheep's milk)
3rd Arthur Schuman Inc., CA - Cello Riserva Copper Kettle Parmesan

HM: Mozzarella types – Brick, Scamorza, String Cheese – all milks
1st Fiscalini Cheese Co., CA - Scamorza

HY: Fresh Mozzarella – 8 oz. or more (Balls or Shapes) – all milks
2nd Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, CA - Fresh Mozzarella

HB: Burrata – Fresh mozzarella encasing a distinctly separate, softer curd and cream, or other soft cheese, core – all milk
3rd Belfiore Cheese Company, CA - Burrata

I. FETA CHEESES
IC: Feta made from cow's milk
2nd Karoun Dairies Inc., CA - Basket Feta

IG: Feta made from goat's milk
1st Karoun Dairies Inc., CA - Basket Goat Feta

KJ: Flavor Added Monterey Jack – all milks
2nd Rumiano Cheese Company, CA - Pepper Jack

LM: Smoked Italian Styles (Mozzarella, Scamorza, Bocconcini, Ovalini, etc.)
1st Belfiore Cheese Company, CA - Naturally Smoked Mozzarella

N. FRESH GOAT'S MILK CHEESES
NO: Fresh Goat Rindless (black ash coating permitted, extruded or in containers, cups, tubs, cryovac
1st Laura Chenel's Chevre, CA - Laura Chenel's

NH: Flavor Added – Herbal
3rd Cypress Grove Chevre, CA - Purple Haze

PC: Open Category made from cow's milk marinated in liquids and ingredients
2nd Karoun Dairies Inc., CA - Marinated hand braided string cheese

PG: Open Category made from goat's milk marinated in liquids and ingredients
1st Laura Chenel's Chevre, CA - Laura Chenel's Cabecou

QC: Cultured products made from cow's milk
1st Karoun Dairies Inc., CA - Labne
3rd Cowgirl Creamery, CA - Cottage Cheese
3rd Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, Inc., CA - Lactose Free Lowfat Plain Kefir

QG: Cultured products made from goat's milk
2nd Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, Inc., CA - Traditional Plain Kefir

QA: Cultured Products / Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – all milks
2nd Karoun Dairies Inc., CA - Creamy Ranch Labne
3rd Karoun Dairies Inc., CA - Spicy Garden Vegetable Labne

QF: Crème Fraiche products made from cow's milk
2nd Bellwether Farms, CA - Crème Fraiche

QY: Yogurts, Plain – made from cow's milk with NO additional ingredients
2nd Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, Inc., CA - Lactose Free Lowfat Plain Yogurt

QD: Yogurts, Plain – made from goat's milk with NO additional ingredients
1st Sierra Nevada Cheese CO., CA - Capretta Goat Yogurt Rich & Creamy, Plain
2nd Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, Inc., CA - Plain Yogurt

QQ: Yogurts, Flavor Added – includes sugar, syrup,
honey, agave, sweeteners, acai, vanilla, fruit, etc. – all milks
2nd Bellwether Farms, CA - Blackberry Sheep Milk Yogurt

RM: Butter made from goat's, sheep's or mixed milks
1st Meyenberg Goat Milk Products, CA - Meyenberg European Style Goat Butter

SF: Cold pack cheese food and cheese spreads with Flavor Added – spices, herbs, seasonings, fruits – all milks – maximum moisture 44%
3rd Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, Inc., CA - Three Peppercorn Chevre