The dairy business is a long-standing family tradition in Marin County. In the mid-19th century, Marin produced 25% of the butter in California with an average herd size of only 10-15 cows. Now, nearly 30 dairies (almost all of which are certified organic) rank the county 15th in state milk production. In fact, Marin’s own Straus Family Dairy was the first certified organic dairy west of the Mississippi!
Marin dairies keep the industry alive by transforming their rich milk into cheese, butter and yogurt that attract attention of consumers nationwide. You could say Marin dairy products are "the cream of the crop."
Watch this video about cheesemaking in Marin, featuring Cowgirl Creamery of Pt. Reyes.
Click here to learn more about Artisan & Farmstead Cheesemaking in Marin, and if you want to visit the creameries, check out the California Cheese Trail Map.
Marin Dairy Products
Regional creamery using milk from local family dairies. Yogurt, milk, kefir, butter, cheese
Cowgirl Creamery
Pt. Reyes Station
Specializing in handcrafted cheese using local organic milk
Bellwether Farms
Tomales
Sheep-milk cheese and yogurt
Marin French Cheese
Petaluma
Specializing in soft-ripening cheeses, sold under the brand name Rouge at Noir
Nicasio Valley Cheese Company
Nicasio
100% Organic, farmstead cows' milk cheese
Pt.Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company
Pt. Reyes
All natural farmstead cheese from cows' milk aged at least 60 days
Ramini Mozzarella
(Formerly) Tomales
Sustainably made mozzarella from 100% water buffalo milk
Straus Family Creamery
Marshall
Family-owned yogurt, milk, ice cream and butter creamery
Toluma Farms
Tomales
Organic goat dairy
Valley Ford Cheese Company
Valley Ford (with milk from Tomales)
Multi-generational family-operated creamery, Certified Humane