SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., & MODESTO, Calif. – October 31, 2008 – California cow’s milk cheese makers won 10 awards at the 20th annual World Cheese Awards cheese competition held in late September in Dublin, Ireland.

Hosted by the Guild of Fine Foods, members of the Supreme Jury at one of the most prestigious cheesemaking competitions in the world tasted and judged 2,400 cheeses from almost every cheese-making nation (excluding South America). California cheesemakers competed against some of the world’s best, and showcased the quality and superiority of California dairy with an impressive showing of bronze, silver and gold awards.

California cow’s milk cheeses won one first-place, four second-place and five third-place awards in this year’s judging.

California winners in the 2008 World Cheese Awards competition included:

 Fiscalini Cheese Company, Modesto, received 1st Place (Gold) for Bandage Wrap Cheddar in the “Medium traditional Cheddar made after 3/31/08” category; 2nd Place (Silver) for Bandage Wrap Cheddar in the ‘Extra Mature traditional Cheddar made after 5/31/07” category; 2nd Place (Silver) for Boccocini in the “Mozzarella, fresh, cows’ milk ball (large or small)” category; 3rd Place (Bronze) for Bandage Wrap Cheddar in the “Mature traditional Cheddar made after 9/1/07” category; 3rd Place (Bronze) for Lionza in the “Semi-hard cheese not in any other class category”
 Mozzarella Fresca Inc., Concord, received 2nd Place (Silver) for Marinated Fresh Mozzarella in the “Cream or fresh cheese with savoury additives” category; 3rd Place (Bronze) for Mascarpone in the “Mascarpone” category
 Bravo Farms Handmade Cheese, Traver, received 3rd Place (Bronze) for Silver Mountain, unpast, veg. in the “Mature traditional Cheddar made after 01/09/07” category
 Cantaré Foods Inc., San Diego, received 2nd Place (Silver) for Fresh Mozarellla Ovoline in the “Mozzarella, fresh, cows’ milk ball (large or small)” category
 Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma, received 3rd Place (Bronze) for Petit Crème in the “Mould ripened, soft or unpressed cows’ milk cheese, plain” category

In all, 5 California cow’s milk cheese producers won awards. Top winners included Fiscalini Farmstead Cheese with five awards; Mozzarella Fresca Foods with two awards; Bravo Farms with one award; Cantaré Foods with one award; and Marin French Cheese Company with one award for cow’s milk cheeses.

Overall, 24 U.S. artisan cheesemakers were awarded a record 56 medals at this year’s World Cheese Awards. This was the best showing for U.S. cheesemakers in the history of the World Cheese Awards competition.

For more information on California cheese and dairy products, visit: www.RealCaliforniaMilk.com. For more information on the World Cheese Awards winners, go to: www.finefoodworld.co.uk.

California is the nation’s leading milk producer. It also produces more butter, ice cream, yogurt and nonfat dry milk than any other state. Dairy products made with California milk can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies that the products are made exclusively with milk produced on California dairy farms. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese, which is available nationally under the Real California Cheese seal.

Contact: Kendra Stewart, Ketchum for the California Milk Advisory Board
kendra.stewart@ketchum.com, 415-984-6191