Marin French Cheese Company facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Founded | 1865 |
| Founder | Jefferson A. Thompson |
| Headquarters |
7500 Red Hill Road Petaluma, CA 94952
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Area served
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California |
| Products | Artisan cheese |
| Owner | Rians |
The Marin French Cheese Company makes delicious artisan cheese in a beautiful countryside area called Marin County, California. This company started way back in 1865, founded by Jefferson Thompson. They make cheeses under the Marin French Cheese name. It is the oldest cheese company in the United States that has been making cheese without stopping!
Contents
The Story of Marin French Cheese
How It All Began
Some stories say that cheese-making might have started here as early as 1854. Other tales mention a local woman, Clara Steele. She supposedly caught wild Spanish cattle in 1857 to make cheese.
What we know for sure is that Jefferson Thompson started the current company in 1865. His family kept the business going for 133 years. From 1906 to 2013, their cheese was known as Rouge et Noir. Then, they changed the name to "Marin French Cheese."
Howard Bunce, who used to manage the company, shared a secret. He said their first product was a "bar cheese." It was a simple, crumbly cheese. This cheese was popular with dock workers in San Francisco. They shipped it by paddle boat down the Petaluma River.
Changes Over Time
In the 1930s, a disease affected their dairy cows. So, they brought in new Jersey cows from Oregon.
In 1998, Bob Thompson sold the company. The Boyce family from Bishop, California, bought it. They owned organic cattle ranches. Jim Boyce, from the Boyce family, said they worked closely with local dairy farmers. These farmers supplied most of their milk.
Jim Boyce passed away in 2010. In 2011, a French family of cheese makers bought Marin French. This family, called Rians, also owns another cheese company nearby.
Delicious Cheeses They Make
When the company first started in 1865, they made a special breakfast cheese. They would take it by horse carriage to Petaluma. From there, it went by steamboat to San Francisco. It was sold to dockworkers on the waterfront. They still make this breakfast cheese today!
Besides the breakfast cheese, they make other kinds too. These include soft cheeses like brie and camembert. They also make chèvre (goat cheese) and even bleu cheese. One of their special cheeses is a rich, creamy triple creme Schloss.
In 2015, their Petite Breakfast cheese had a special label. It said "1865" to celebrate their 150th birthday. This honored all the cheesemakers who kept the tradition alive.
Where the Cheese is Made
The Marin French Cheese Company is on a large dairy ranch. It covers about 425-acre (1.72 km2) of land. The main building is where they make and sell cheese. It's about 9,000-square-foot (840 m2) big. There are also barns, storage buildings, and a picnic area.
Even though it has a Petaluma address, it's actually about 11 miles (18 km) southwest of that city. It's also about 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Novato. Sometimes, they even have art shows at their location!
Keeping Farming Traditions Alive
The company works with other local cheesemakers. These are in Marin and Sonoma counties. They all help put on the California Artisan Cheese Festival each year in Petaluma.
Jim Boyce, a former owner, once said something important. He said they are dedicated to their long history of making cheese by hand. This skill has been passed down through many generations. Marin French Cheese Company now makes over 40 different types of cheese. But each one is still made carefully by hand. They are aged in the original underground cellar. Then, they are weighed and packaged by hand.
Awards They've Won
In 2005, their Triple Creme Brie won a big award. It was at the World Cheese Awards in London. It won top honors in its category. This was the only gold medal given out in that group that year!
See also
