BUY AWARD WINNING CHEESE FOR THE HOLIDAYS CALIFORNIA CHEESES ARE WORLD CLASS

SACRAMENTO, December 22, 2008 - Shoppers who are looking for that last-minute holiday snack or a gift for friends, family or co-workers may want to consider California’s delicious award-winning cheeses.

Earlier this fall at the 2008 World Cheese Awards in Dublin Ireland, U.S. artisan cheese makers scored their best ever overall performance, taking home 56 medals with 19 medals going to California cheeses. In addition to producing some of the best cheese in the world, California is the nation’s leading milk producer and produces more butter, yogurt and nonfat dry milk than any other state. 
To see a fun video on cheese, please go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miRLXhKkVqQ&feature=channel_page

Among the 2008 winners from California:

Soft goats’ milk cheese plain, mould-ripened
-Humboldt Fog, soft ripened goats’ milk cheese, Cypress Grove Chèvre, Arcata, Calif., Gold
-Bermuda Triangle, soft ripened goats’ milk cheese, Cypress Grove Chèvre, Arcata, Gold
-Fog Lights, soft ripened goats’ milk cheese, Cypress Grove Chèvre, Arcata, Calif., Silver
-Marin French Chèvre, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Bronze

Cheese made with the milk of more than one species
-Mélange Camembert, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Gold
-Mélange Brie, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Silver
-Mélange Bleu, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Silver

Mould ripened, soft or unpressed cows’ milk cheese, plain
-Petit Crème, Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, Calif., Bronze

Cream or fresh cheese with savory additives
-Fromage Blanc with Garlic & Herbs, Harley Farms Goat Dairy, Pescadero, Calif., Silver
-Marinated Fresh Mozzarella, Mozzarella Fresca Inc., Concord, Calif., Silver

Mascarpone
-Mascarpone, Cantaré Foods Inc., San Diego, Calif., Gold
-Mascarpone, Mozzarella Fresca Inc., Concord, Calif., Bronze

Mature traditional cheddar made after 9/1/07
-Silver Mountain, unpasteurized, veg., Bravo Farms Handmade Cheese, Traver, Bronze
-Bandage Wrap Cheddar, Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., Bronze

Medium traditional cheddar made after 3/31/08
-Bandage Wrap Cheddar, Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., Gold

Extra Mature traditional cheddar made after 5/31/07
-Bandage Wrap Cheddar, Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., Silver

Mozzarella, fresh, cows’ milk in ball (large or small)
-Fresh Mozzarella, Ovoline, Cantaré Foods Inc., San Diego, Silver
-Boccocini, Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., Silver

Semi-hard cheese not in any other class
-Lionza, Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., Bronze