California Ag Network

Tag: Real California Milk

  • Real California Milk Begins Holiday Season With Mornings Mean More Campaign

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced today the return of its consumer promotion focused on holiday breakfast traditions with dairy. The annual campaign – titled Holiday Mornings Mean More – debuted in 2020 and focuses on the California market. Holiday Mornings Mean More communicates messages of family, togetherness, and the importance of celebrating time together over special breakfast recipes. The featured promotional menu provides a turn-key solution for busy shoppers, where any of the recipes can be scaled up or down to accommodate gathering sizes. The menu includes recipes designed to be enjoyed together such as a Greek Veggie and Feta Frittata, a Pancake and Waffle Party Board, Cheesy Hash Brown Egg Bites, and a Hot & Tasty Beverage Board.

    The promotion, which runs November 28 through December 25, will be geotargeted around 1,557 California stores including Smart & Final, Ralphs, Safeway and Walmart, among others. It will be supported with in-store media and shopper marketing activations. Integrated digital media will include banner ads and in-line recipe pairings throughout Chicory’s recipe network, a targeted email blast, Ibotta rebate offers, Instacart SEM, sponsored social media posts, targeted display banner ads, and food influencer partnerships across Instagram and TikTok.

    “Dairy is an essential part of breakfast. These holiday breakfast recipes were curated to showcase the best of California dairy while inspiring families to spend time together during the holidays creating new traditions in the kitchen,” said Katelyn Harmon, Director of Business Development, U.S. Retail for the CMAB. “High quality, sustainably produced Real California dairy products are perfect additions to make breakfast as a family that much more special.”

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer and makes more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. California is the second largest producer of cheese and yogurt. California products can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made with milk from the state’s dairy farm families using sustainable farming practices.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • Competition Spotlights Globally Inspired Dishes Featuring Real California Cheese

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced the inaugural Global Flavors Culinary Competition, a foodservice event that celebrates the broad application of Real California cheese and dairy products in global cuisines. This year’s competition will provide “A Taste of Italy,” with a focus on developing classic and innovative recipes highlighting Italian-style cheese and dairy products from California.

    Six professional chefs will compete for $27,000 in cash prizes and recognition as a global culinary leader in a cook-off event at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, Calif. November 9, 2022.

    “The diversity of California cheese and dairy items lend themselves well to global flavors and regional cuisines from around the world. California’s leadership in Mozzarella and Italian-style cheese production makes Italian cuisine an important area of focus for CMAB,” said Mike Gallagher, Business and Market Development Consultant for the CMAB.  “We appreciate the innovation and passion of our chef community and are excited to see how these acclaimed chefs use California cheeses to bring their recipes to life.”

    The chefs for this year’s inaugural competition are:

    • Jay Adams, Local Kitchen, San Francisco, Calif.
    • Jose Gutierrez, Herbs & Rye; Cleaver, Las Vegas, Nev.
    • Giuseppe Musso, Michael’s Downtown Italian Kitchen & Café, Long Beach, Calif.
    • Freedom Rains, a Mano, San Francisco, Calif.
    • Gustavo Rios, Solage Calistoga, Sonoma, Calif.
    • Ismaele Romano, Via Focaccia, Las Vegas, Nev.

    Each chef will compete in two categories: Il Classico and Il Fresco. The Il Classico category will require chefs to develop an original entrée inspired by classic Italian cuisine commonly found on restaurant menus nationwide. The Il Fresco category will ask chefs to provide a fresh, new take on Italian cuisine, crafting an original appetizer or dessert that demonstrates creativity and innovation.

    The six chefs will use Real California cheese and dairy products as central ingredients in their two recipes and present their dishes side-by-side to an esteemed panel of professional judges for evaluation, including:

    • Nick Barrington, Executive Chef, East Lake Golf Club, and President of the American Culinary Federation, Atlanta Chefs Association
    • Neil Doherty, Corporate Executive Chef – Sr. Director of Culinary Development, Sysco
    • David Kamen, Former Executive Chef, and Director – Client Engagement, Culinary Institute of America (CIA)

    The judges will score each recipe and name a winner and runner-up in each category based on established criteria which includes:

    • Emphasis on Real California Cheese and Dairy
    • Commercial viability of the dish
    • Recipe innovation and creativity
    • Overall flavor profile and texture
    • Presentation

    Each category winner will receive a trophy and $5,000 prize. Category runners-up will receive $2,500, and each remaining finalist will earn $1,500, per category. CMAB will feature chefs and recipe content in ongoing promotion of California cheese and dairy at foodservice.

    Details and updates about the chefs, competition, categories, and winning recipes are available at: https://caglobalcompetition.realcaliforniamilk.com.

    California is a reliable, consistent source of sustainable dairy products used by chefs throughout the world. As the nation’s largest dairy state, California boasts an impressive lineup of award-winning cheesemakers and dairy processors who are helping to drive dining innovation. California is the leading producer of fluid milk, butter, and ice cream as well as Mozzarella, the premier Italian-style cheese for foodservice. California milk and dairy foods can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with milk from the state’s dairy farm families.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board
    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs.

    The Foodservice Division of the CMAB supports foodservice operators and distributors that use Real California dairy products. The CMAB offers marketing and promotional support for foodservice operators that purchase dairy products with the Real California Milk seal, which means they are made with 100 percent milk from California’s more than 1,100 family dairy farms, using some of the most sustainable dairy practices in the nation.

    For more information on sourcing cheese from California, contact the foodservice team at 209.883.6455 (MILK),businessdevelopment@cmab.net or RealCaliforniaMilk.com/Foodservice, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

  • Celebrating California’s Hispanic-Style Cheese & Dairy Products With Texas Retail Promotion

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) is celebrating the flavors and traditions of Mexico brought to life by California’s Hispanic-style cheeses and dairy products with a consumer retail promotion focused on Hispanic Heritage Month.

    The “Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with California’s Hispanic Dairy” promotion is designed to elevate awareness for Hispanic-style cheeses, cremas, breakfast cream and dips at Texas retailers using integrated digital media and in-store elements . Promotional support includes instant redeemable coupons, Instacart SEO, shopper marketing, Chicory recipe search and banner ads.. An advertising and public relations surround campaign will include digital banners, microinfluencer partnerships and social amplification as well as earned media outreach to spotlight recipe trends.

    The campaign will run from mid-September to mid-October, and includes the following Texas retailers: H-E-B, Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop, Kroger, Walmart, and Fiesta stores. A total of 1,103 stores will participate.

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer and makes more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. California is the largest producer of Hispanic-style cheese and dairy products. California products can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made with milk from the state’s dairy farm families using sustainable farming practices.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • Western United Dairies’ Melissa Lema Joins CA Milk Advisory Board Marketing Team

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), the marketing order representing California dairy producers, announced the addition of Melissa Lema as Director of Producer Relations.

    Lema joins the CMAB from Western United Dairies where she spent 11 years, most recently as a North Coast Field Representative focusing on all aspects of the relationship between producers and industry professionals, from laws and regulations to animal welfare, as well as overall industry communication.

    She spent much of her childhood on her grandparents’ dairy farm in the Ferndale Valley. She showed dairy cattle through 4-H for ten years, and participated in dairy cattle judging through FFA. Lema later majored in Dairy Science at Cal Poly, SLO, where she graduated in 2009. She has been active in local and statewide dairy and agricultural organizations throughout her career including Farm Bureau, 4-H, the California Cattle Health Advisory Task Force, and the District 1 Dairy Princess Committee.

    “As a farmer-funded organization focused on building demand for products made with milk from California dairy farms, Melissa’s deep relationships and understanding of all facets of the dairy industry is a tremendous asset to our team,” said John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB.

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer, and makes more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. California is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. California milk and dairy foods can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made with milk from the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable farming practices.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • Competition Winners Showcase Recipe Innovation Using California’s Hispanic-Style Cheese

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced the winners of the 2022 Cal-Mex Invitational – its inaugural culinary competition to find the nation’s top recipes that incorporate Hispanic-style cheeses and dairy from California with Mexican cuisine and California flavors.

    Chefs Chad Clevenger of Atlanta, Ga., Claud Beltran of Pasadena, Calif., and Marco Colin of Chicago, Ill., won $5,000 each in the cook-off finals while competing in three meal categories: Appetizer, Entrée, and Dessert. Each chef received a trophy, $5,000 cash prize and the distinction of being a Cal-Mex culinary pioneer.

    The event is a new foodservice competition that celebrates Cal-Mex, an emerging trend in foodservice nationwide. Cal-Mex marries California and Mexican cuisines and spotlights recipes featuring California cheese and dairy products.

    The cook-off finals, which took place at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Copia in Napa, Calif., included six professional chefs selected from a group of culinary experts from throughout the U.S. who submitted recipes in the three categories for review by the judging panel.

    Three nationally recognized chefs judged the live event: Ben Diaz, Executive Chef of Leoness Cellars in Southern California; Claudette Zepeda, San Diego-based Chef and Culinary Entrepreneur; and Barbara Alexander, California-based Certified Executive Chef and Culinary Educator. The judges scored dishes in each category based on factors including taste, innovation, and creative use of Hispanic-style cheeses and dairy products made with Real California Milk.

    The winning chefs and dishes for the 2022 Cal-Mex Invitational are:

    Appetizer Category Winner: La Menonita en El Molcajete

    • Chad Clevenger, Owner of pop-up restaurant El Nido Del Buho in Atlanta, Ga. and formerly at Alma Cocina in Atlanta as well as Mel’s Bar & Grill and Porker Street Food Cart in Denver, Colo.
    • Chad’s winning La Menonita en El Molcajete recipe features tortilla-crusted, fried Real California Queso Menonita, served with fresh salsa verde and presented in an authentic Mexican Molcajete.

    Entrée Category Winner: Grilled Panela and Eggplant

    • Claud Beltran, Chef/Co-Owner at Claud & Co. Bacchus Kitchen in Pasadena, Calif. and formerly of California-based food, catering and restaurant companies Evo Company, Beverly Hills Wine Merchant, Barbara West, and Dickenson West.
    • Claud took home the prize for his Grilled Panela and Eggplant recipe, a plant-forward signature entrée featuring California Panela cheese, eggplant, squash and corn with pops of fried Cotija cheese.

    Dessert Category Winner: Winter Corn

    • Marco Colin, Chef at La Luna in Chicago, Ill. And formerly of The Publican, Alinea and Soho House in Chicago.
    • Marco’s winning Winter Corn dessert relies on Real California Queso Fresco as the base for a luscious ice cream, served on a sweet corn cake and topped with buttery caramel sauce.

    “The competition demonstrated how Hispanic-style cheeses from California can be the centerpiece for standout dishes across multiple meal parts,” said Mike Gallagher, Business and Market Development Consultant for the CMAB. “The winning recipes displayed tremendous innovation in the use of California dairy as ingredients and each chef’s take on the marriage of California and Mexican cuisine. We look forward to sharing these concepts and insights on the category with operators interested in tapping into the Cal-Mex trend.”

    Competition recap videos, including the live awards ceremony for each category, can be found on the CMAB Foodservice YouTube channel.  Additional details are available on the Cal-Mex Invitational site.

    California leads the nation in the production of Hispanic-style cheeses, headlined by Queso Fresco, Quesadilla, Cotija, Oaxaca, and Panela. The Golden State is also the nation’s largest producer of milk, butter, ice cream, and nonfat dry milk. California milk and dairy products can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made with sustainably sourced milk from the state’s dairy farm families. California boasts an impressive lineup of award-winning cheesemakers and dairy processors that are helping to drive dining innovation.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs.

    The Foodservice Division of the CMAB supports foodservice operators and distributors that use Real California dairy products. The CMAB offers marketing and promotional support for foodservice operators that purchase dairy products with the Real California Milk seal, which means they are made with 100 percent milk from California’s more than 1,100 family dairy farms, using some of the most sustainable dairy practices in the nation.

    For more information on sourcing cheese from California, contact the foodservice team at 209.883.6455 (MILK), businessdevelopment@cmab.net or RealCaliforniaMilk.com/Foodservice, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

  • Chef Finalists For Inaugural Cal-Mex Real California Milk Foodservice Competition

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) today announced six chef finalists for the Cal-Mex Invitational, a new foodservice competition that celebrates the fusion of California and Mexican cuisines and spotlights recipes featuring California cheese and dairy products.

    The six finalists will compete in a head-to-head cook-off event at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, California on August 3, 2022, for more than $22,000 in cash prizes and recognition as a Cal-Mex culinary pioneer. The event will be judged by an elite team of chefs and live-streamed so viewers can watch as chefs prepare Cal-Mex dishes in three categories: Appetizer, Entrée, and Dessert. The event will be hosted by award-winning author, speaker, and national food television personality Leslie Sbrocco.

    “The Cal-Mex category is growing and offers a tremendous opportunity to highlight California cheese and dairy. The addition of the Cal-Mex Invitational to our foodservice competition program recognizes the influence of chefs who are showcasing the fusion of California and Mexican flavors in their own unique way,” said Mike Gallagher, Business and Market Development Consultant for the CMAB. “We look forward to collaborating with this team of chefs and exploring how they interpret Cal-Mex.”

    The finalists for the 2022 Cal-Mex Invitational are:

    Appetizer

    • Chad Clevenger, Owner of pop-up restaurant El Nido Del Buho in Atlanta, Ga. and formerly at Alma Cocina in Atlanta as well as Mel’s Bar & Grill and Porker Street Food Cart in Denver, Colo.
    • Victoria Elizondo, Chef/Owner at Cochinita & Co. and Cochi’s Taqueria in Houston, Texas.

    Entrée

    • Claud Beltran, Chef/Co-Owner at Claud & Co. Bacchus Kitchen in Pasadena, Calif. and formerly of California-based food, catering and restaurant companies Evo Company, Beverly Hills Wine Merchant, Barbara West, and Dickenson West.
    • Mark Casale, Executive Chef at Dos Coyotes Border Café, Sacramento, Calif., incorporating the company’s 11 associated restaurants in Northern California.

    Dessert

    • Manny Barella, Executive Chef/Partner at Bellota in Denver, Colo. And formerly of Sea Island Resort in Ga., and Calistoga Ranch, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, and Solage Resort in California’s Napa Valley.
    • Marco Colin, Chef at La Luna in Chicago, Ill. And formerly of The Publican, Alinea and Soho House in Chicago.

    Cal-Mex Invitational finalists were selected from a group of professional chefs from across the U.S. A panel of expert judges scored the best two recipes in each category from each chef to select finalists to participate in the cook-off event in Napa.

    Three nationally known chefs will judge the cook-off event: Ben Diaz, Executive Chef of Leoness Cellars, Hugo Ortega, Executive Chef/Owner H Town Restaurant Group, and Claudette Zepeda, San Diego-based Chef and Culinary Entrepreneur.

    A native Angelino, Ben Diaz puts his passion into every dish at Leoness Cellars. Ben trained at the California School of Culinary Arts and the L’Académie Culinaire de France. He developed Tacos El Chapin, a popular pop-up taqueria, and is the Chief Culinary Officer at CBD Cuisine Consulting Services & Catering Division, which works with restaurants around the world. Ben previously served as top toque at some of Southern California’s best hotels and restaurants. He wrote the reference book, From a Cook to a Professional Chef, and has appeared on Food Network’s Chef Wanted and Cutthroat Kitchen, and The Cooking Channel’s Farmers Market Flip, where he won.

    Hugo Ortega, winner of 2017 James Beard Foundation Best Chef: Southwest, started as busboy at the Backstreet Café in Houston and following culinary school became its executive chef and co-owner with his wife Tracy Vaught. Hugo later became executive chef and opened Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi, and URBE. He received the 2017 Craig Claiborne Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Foodways Alliance. In 2019, Vaught established the Chef Hugo Ortega Endowment at Houston Community College’s Culinary Arts Program to provide scholarships for culinary students. Hugo published two cookbooks: Hugo Ortega’s Street Food of Mexico and Backstreet Kitchen: Seasonal Recipes from Our Neighborhood Cafe.

    Claudette Zepeda oversees the creative vision at VAGA restaurant in San Diego’s North County. Previously, she gained national acclaim as the executive chef and partner at El Jardín, also in San Diego. Claudette won both Eater San Diego and the San Diego Union Tribune’s Chef of the Year in 2018 and was a James Beard Best Chef West semifinalist in 2019. She competed on Top Chef Season 15 and Top Chef Mexico and won Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. In 2019 Claudette founded Viva La Vida, LLC., which starts micro businesses with single mothers in Mexico.

    Judges will evaluate dishes by criteria including the inventive use of Hispanic-style Real California cheeses and dairy products, taste, texture and presentation, and creativity. Based on scoring, each category winner will receive a trophy and $5,000 prize. Category runners-up each receive a certificate and $1,500. Non-finalists received $500 each.

    For additional details and updates about the inaugural Cal-Mex Invitational, competitors and competing dishes visit calmex.realcaliforniamilk.com.

    California is a reliable, consistent source of sustainable dairy products used by chefs throughout the world. As the nation’s largest dairy state, California boasts an impressive lineup of award-winning cheesemakers and dairy processors who are helping to drive dining innovation. California is the leading producer of fluid milk, butter and ice cream as well as Hispanic-style cheese and dairy products for Cal-Mex creations.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board
    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs.

    The Foodservice Division of the CMAB supports foodservice operators and distributors that use Real California dairy products. The CMAB offers marketing and promotional support for foodservice operators that purchase dairy products with the Real California Milk seal, which means they are made with 100 percent milk from California’s more than 1,100 family dairy farms, using some of the most sustainable dairy practices in the nation.

    For more information on sourcing cheese from California, contact the foodservice team at 209.883.6455 (MILK), businessdevelopment@cmab.net or RealCaliforniaMilk.com/Foodservice, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

  • CA Milk Advisory Board Announces 2022 Executive Committee Officers

    The California Milk Advisory Board is pleased to announce members of the 2022 California Milk Advisory Board’s Executive Committee.  Newly elected 2022 officers include (see photo from top row, left to right): Member-at-Large Arlene Vander Eyk of Tulare, Secretary John VanderPoel of Wasco, Treasurer Andre Brazil of Visalia, Member-at-Large, Maureen Lemos of Waterford, Vice Chairman Renae De Jager of Chowchilla, Chairman Tony Louters of Merced, and Previous Secretary Kirsten Areias of Los Banos (now retired). Not shown Member-at-Large Susan Bianchi of Petaluma. 
     
    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • Cal-Mex Invitational Foodservice Competition To Showcase Real California Cheese & Dairy

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced a new culinary competition for foodservice that celebrates the fusion of California and Mexican cuisines, the Cal-Mex Invitational. The Cal-Mex Invitational captures the culinary trends of global flavors and ethnic fare, trends California – as the leading producer of Hispanic-style cheese and dairy products in the United States – is well positioned to tap into.

    For the Invitational, a select group of professional chefs from across the U.S. will be invited to submit recipes covering three meal occasions that showcase the innovative use of Hispanic-style Real California cheese and dairy products in each. A panel of expert judges will choose the best two recipes in each category – appetizer, entrée, and dessert. The winning chefs will then compete in a head-to-head cook-off at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, Calif. on August 3, 2022, for over $22,000 in cash prizes and recognition as a Cal-Mex leader.

    “Culinary competitions like the Cal-Mex Invitational create an opportunity to work with and recognize chefs who are using California cheese and dairy product in an innovative and exciting way,” said Mike Gallagher, Business and Market Development Consultant for the CMAB. “We look forward to exploring the Cal-Mex category through their dishes.”

    The live, cook-off event will be presented online where viewers can watch as chefs prepare dishes in front of the judges and are evaluated by criteria, such as the use of Hispanic-style California dairy products, taste, texture and presentation, and creativity.

    Based on scoring, each category winner will receive a trophy and $5,000 prize. Category runners-up each receive a certificate and $1,500. Non-finalists receive a certificate and $500 each.

    For more details and the latest updates about the inaugural Cal-Mex Invitational, the competitors and competing dishes visit https://calmex.realcaliforniamilk.com/.

    California leads the nation in milk production and is responsible for producing more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. The state is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. California milk and dairy foods can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made exclusively with sustainably sourced milk from the state’s dairy farm families.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board
    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs.

    The Foodservice Division of the CMAB supports foodservice operators and distributors that use Real California dairy products. The CMAB offers marketing and promotional support for foodservice operators that purchase dairy products with the Real California Milk seal, which means they are made with 100 percent milk from California’s more than 1,100 family dairy farms, using some of the most sustainable dairy practices in the nation.

    For more information on sourcing cheese from California, contact the foodservice team at 209.883.6455 (MILK), businessdevelopment@cmab.net or RealCaliforniaMilk.com/Foodservice, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

  • CA Dairy Families Partner to Shred Hunger with Pilot Project Delivering Over 190,000 Pounds of Cheese to Feeding Programs Throughout State

    With one in five Californians currently struggling with food insecurity, partnerships between farmers and food banks are an essential tool in fighting hunger. In commemoration of World Milk Day on June 1, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced a partnership with Feeding American and the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) to provide access to nutritious dairy foods at sites serving families in need throughout the state.

    A pilot program announced today during a donation event at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services in Sacramento, will provide five truckloads of cheese shreds in one-pound packages for distribution at 11 Feeding America and California Association of Food Bank sites. That’s more than 3 million servings or 3.6 million grams of protein to nourish families. Part of the CMAB’s #CADAIRY4GOOD, the pilot is phase one of an ongoing partnership with Feeding America that will deliver over $1 million in resources to food banks and feeding programs to source California dairy foods including cheese and fluid milk, one of the most requested and least donated items at food banks.

    California Agriculture Secretary, Karen Ross, was onsite to help make the announcement, stating: “California dairy farmers have a long history of supporting the communities where they live and work. I’m pleased to join Real California Milk, Feeding America, and the California Association of Food Banks during dairy month to launch this partnership that provides products like cheese, a rich source of protein and other essential nutrients, to programs that serve families throughout the state.”

    “Farmers feed people, it’s core to their personal values,” said John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB. “California dairy farmers are passionate about nourishing communities everywhere with the wholesome goodness of milk. We’re grateful to Feeding America for support to expand the reach of these essential resources.”

    The California cheese donation will be distributed to 11 food banks – Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Feeding San Diego, Orange County Food Bank, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, Second Harvest Santa Cruz County, SLO Food Bank, Food Share of Ventura County, Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, Central California Food Bank and Second Harvest of the Greater Valley. These food banks have 3,095 community partner distribution organizations, including soup kitchens and pantries, and collectively distributed nearly 360 million meals in 2021 alone.

    “Many of our neighbors are forced to make difficult decisions between paying for food or other essentials including housing. Low-income households spend one-third of their budget on food which means rising food costs can have a dramatic effect on food security,” said Sam Schwoeppe, Senior Account Manager, Agri Sourcing Partnerships for Feeding America. “Public-private partnerships like this are an essential way to support the vulnerable members of our community and allow us to stretch resources to increase access for all members of the community.”

    “Our food banks continue to serve more than 1.5x pre-pandemic demand and we don’t anticipate that stopping any time soon,” said Maria Houlne, Director of Farm to Family for the California Association of Food Banks. “Food donations and grants from famers and organizations like CMAB, coupled with public initiatives like the state’s CalFood program that allows food banks to purchase California-grown foods, are essential for food banks to meet that demand. Access to food is a basic human right.”

    The #CADAIRY4GOOD platform focuses on increasing access to nourishing dairy foods for families throughout California. In 2020 the CMAB provided more than 1 million servings of milk through grants to food banks in the state and in 2021 delivered 14 refrigeration units to school milk pantries in the Central Valley. Phase two of the 2022 program will focus on fluid milk with community milk drives and grants for food banks during September Hunger Action Month.

    California is the number one dairy state. Its 1,100 family dairy farms are focused on delivering the wholesome goodness of California milk while creating a greener, more sustainable future for dairy in the state.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world. Connect with the CMAB at RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

    About Feeding America
    Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

    About California Association of Food Banks (CAFB)
    The California Association of Food Banks leads the collective effort to end hunger in California. Every day, CAFB works to ensure its 41 member food banks have the tools and resources they need to do what they do best: feed our communities, while also working to change the systems that create hunger in the first place. Learn more at cafoodbanks.org.

    About Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS)
    Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is a local, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. SFBFS is dedicated to assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. With a staff of 90 and a volunteer force of 11,000, SFBFS is committed to feeding 250,000 seniors, families and children each month. Learn more atsacramentofoodbank.org.

  • Real California Milk Excelerator Launches Quest for New Dairy Innovation

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced the return of its annual dairy innovation competition for the fourth year running. This year’s Real California Milk Excelerator, created in partnership with innovation consultancy VentureFuel, brings a new, expansive focus to accelerate any dairy-based product – from traditional consumer food and beverage items to textiles, haircare, and beyond. The competition will award up to $500,000 in prizes for new innovative dairy products that introduce novel benefits in any form and drive consumption of Real California dairy.

    The 2022 Real California Milk Excelerator enables innovation in its truest state: open. Given dairy’s versatility of benefits and functionality, from nutrition and flavor to texture and chemical composition, this open approach encourages innovation across product categories, all leveraging the versatility of the dairy ecosystem. It also taps into two of California’s incredible resources – an abundant supply of sustainably sourced California milk and the state’s entrepreneurial spirit.

    “Real dairy provides a package of functional and practical benefits that’s hard to replicate. We’re seeing an increase in unique products that leverage these benefits emerging in the market. By expanding the competition to all new dairy-based products, versus a specific category, we’re creating more opportunity to make a meaningful difference in consumers’ lives and in the utilization of milk from California’s family dairy farms,” said John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB. “With the Excelerator platforms we’ve established over the past four years, we will be able to support companies as they innovate and establish these products in the market.”

    As one of the biggest dairy competitions in the world, the program seeks early-stage, high-growth potential applicants with a 50% cow’s milk-based product or working prototype.

    Up to eight applicants will be selected to join the RCM Excelerator program. Each will have access to a group stipend and a robust network of resources to refine and scale their product and business. They will also participate in the CMAB/VentureFuel Mentorship Program, consisting of elite counsel from successful founders, investors, leading corporate executives, and experts across design, marketing, sales, manufacturing, distribution, farming, and processing industries.

    VentureFuel, Inc., a leading corporate innovation consultancy, is driving what’s next – now – in dairy innovation through the continued partnership with CMAB. “Each year, we tap into our global network of investors, founders, academics, and idea generators to maximize collective opportunities,” said Fred Schonenberg, Founder of VentureFuel, Inc. “Innovation continues to accelerate in product volume and the speed from idea to market. Now, we are matching the most promising companies with capital to be deployed intentionally, and with significant near-term, tangible impact.”

    This year, for the first time, the odds of receiving an award are higher than ever, with up to four of the eight participants receiving $50,000 each to grow and expand their product in California. One of the participating companies will unlock an additional $100,000 grand prize by establishing their presence in California and exhibiting the most promising growth within the 12 months after the finals. The total value of all competition awards tallies in at half a million dollars.

    More details including competition rules, timeline and application are available at realcamilkexcelerator.com. The deadline to apply is July 17th, 2022.

    California, known for innovation, has a reputation for quality dairy products. As the number one milk producer in the U.S., California also leads the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. More than 1,100 family dairy farms produce the milk found in fluid milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy products identified by the Real California Milk seal.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagramand Pinterest.

    About VentureFuel, Inc.

    Founded in 2014, VentureFuel is an independent innovation consultancy that builds innovation programs for industry leaders by unlocking the power of external innovation through startup collaboration. Its programs focus on changing behaviors and beliefs to unlock new sources of growth. We provide senior leaders with the tools to drive transformative change within their organizations by opening their teams to new ways of working, products, services and routes to market. Learn more at: www.venturefuel.net, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.  You can listen to The VentureFuel Visionaries podcast on Apple, Spotify or Simplecast.