California Dairies Archives - California Agriculture News Today

Real California Milk Launches Grilled Cheese Contest to Celebrate Iconic Comfort Food with a California Twist

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) today announced the launch of the 2025 Real California Grilled Cheese Sandwich Contest, a national foodservice recipe competition inviting professional chefs to reimagine the classic grilled cheese sandwich using California’s rich array of artisan cheeses and butter.

Following the success of the Great Mozzarella Showdown and other virtual competitions, this latest online contest celebrates the beloved grilled cheese in two creative categories:

California Classic: Featuring up to three California cheeses, no additional ingredients.
California Freestyle: Featuring one to three California cheeses plus unlimited additional ingredients (as long as cheese makes up at least 50% of the sandwich).

Influential foodservice judges will select eight winning recipes from the online submissions based on strict criteria, including use of California cheese, recipe innovation, and flavor expectations. CMAB’s team of professional chefs will conduct a cook-off of the winning recipes and grand prize champions will be named for each category.

Each chef finalist will receive $1,000, with the two winning dishes receiving an additional $1,000 for a total of $2,000 to each category winner. In total, the CMAB will award $10,000 in prize money.

“Grilled cheese continues to grow as a creative and profitable opportunity for chefs and restaurants looking to offer something familiar, yet elevated. California’s high-quality cheeses are the ideal foundation for innovation, helping chefs craft flavorful sandwiches that stand out on any menu,” said Mike Gallagher, Business and Market Development Consultant for the CMAB. “We’re excited to see the original recipes chefs submit in this contest and how they showcase the versatility of California dairy.”

The recipe submission period is August 1- September 19, 2025. The eight final recipes/chefs will be announced on October 13, 2025, with two grand champions named in mid-November. For more information, including entry details, visit https://realcaliforniamilkfoodservice.com/grilled-cheese-contest/.

California is a reliable, consistent source of sustainable dairy products used by chefs and culinary professionals throughout the world. As the nation’s largest dairy state, California boasts an impressive lineup of award-winning cheesemakers and dairy processors that are helping to drive dining innovation.

California Ag Today2025-08-05T13:41:45-07:00August 5th, 2025|

MORE THAN 20 DAIRY PARTNERS DISPLAY DAIRY TRENDS, SUSTAINABLE INGREDIENTS IN REAL CALIFORNIA MILK’S STREET OF DAIRY AT 2025 INTERNATIONAL DAIRY DELI BAKERY ASSOCIATION SHOW

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) will spotlight a variety of innovative, on-trend sustainably sourced dairy products at the 2025 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) show in New Orleans, La. June 1-3. As a key exhibitor at the event, which brings together 10,000 attendees and more than 800 exhibiting companies at the largest industry-only show for dairy, deli, bakery, and foodservice, CMAB will connect with industry professionals while sharing all that California dairy has to offer through on-trend culinary dishes and more.

An assortment of dairy applications will be sampled throughout the show in CMAB’s booth #3725, including specialty cheese, kefir, desserts and more. California culinary expert Joe Baird will showcase a selection of trending recipes including Truffle Brie Wonton Nachos, Di Puglia Burrata Lemon and Basil Orzo, Hot Honey Grilled Cheese, Cream Cheese Dubai Chocolate Mousse, Whipped Burrata Mango Thai-Style Salad, and Lemon Ricotta Gelato will be featured in the Real California Kitchen.

California dairy processors in attendance include Angelo & Franco, Arbo’s Cheese Dips, Bellwether Farms, Cheese Bits, California Sunshine/Hidden Villa Ranch, Crystal Creamery, DiStefano Cheese, Double Rainbow Ice Cream, Fiscalini Cheese, Gelato Festival, Karoun Dairies, Lifeway, Marin French Cheese, Moinear Farmhouse Butter, Marquez Brothers, Pacific Cheese, Petit Pot, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co., Rumiano Cheese, Santini Foods, Savencia, Scott Brothers, Sierra Nevada Cheese Co., Super Store Industries, and Sweet Craft Dolceria.

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 means they are made with milk from the state’s dairy families using some of the most sustainable farming practices in the world.

California Ag Today2025-05-27T07:41:14-07:00May 27th, 2025|

California Milk Advisory Board Selects Student Ambassadors to Share California Dairy Messages with International Audience

Courtesy of the California Milk Advisory Board

The California Milk Advisory Board is pleased to introduce the selected interns for Summer 2025. These outstanding students, chosen from agriculture-related programs across the state, will serve as international ambassadors for Real California Milk, gaining hands-on experience in global dairy marketing and promotion.

Pictured left to right: Anissa Borges and Dayana Limon Santiago.

California Ag Today2025-02-12T14:53:32-08:00February 12th, 2025|

California Dairies, Inc. Announces Future Leadership Transition

President & CEO Brad Anderson Announces Retirement at Year End; COO Rob Vandenheuvel Named as Successor

California Dairies, Inc. (CDI), today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Brad Anderson will retire at the end of 2025, following a distinguished career marked by significant contributions to both CDI and the broader dairy industry.

Anderson joined CDI as Chief Operating Officer in 2018 and was appointed President and CEO in 2020. During his tenure, Anderson spearheaded transformative initiatives that strengthened CDI’s position as an industry leader.

Under Anderson’s leadership, CDI achieved significant transformation and innovation. He oversaw the construction of a new state-of-the-art processing facility in Bakersfield, expanding CDI’s manufacturing footprint into Extended Shelf Life (ESL) and Aseptic/Shelf Stable Ultra High Temperature (UHT) products. He optimized operations by restructuring the organization into Global Business Groups to better serve domestic and international markets. Anderson also diversified CDI’s existing product portfolio, including the introduction of lactoferrin production, as the organization sought to expand its market reach and meet evolving consumer demands. Furthermore, he established CDI as an environmental leader through the “Golden State Advantage” initiative.

Beyond his contributions to CDI, Anderson is a recognized industry leader, actively shaping the future of dairy through his involvement in various organizations. He has held key leadership roles within the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, National Milk Producers Federation, and the U.S. Dairy Export Council. This includes his instrumental work as Chair of the Innovation Center’s Stewardship Commitment Taskforce and CEO Taskforce on Greenhouse Gas Reporting.

“Brad’s legacy is one of transformation,” said Cory Vanderham, Chairman of CDI’s Board of Directors. “He inspired a culture of innovation that led to the expansion of product lines, including Lactoferrin and our Valley Natural Beverages UHT and ESL production facility. We are grateful for his leadership.”

To ensure a smooth transition, CDI’s Board of Directors has named Rob Vandenheuvel, current Chief Operating Officer, as Anderson’s successor. Vandenheuvel will assume the role of President and CEO on January 1, 2026.

Since joining CDI in 2017, Vandenheuvel has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership across various areas, including member and industry relations, supply chain, operations, and sales. His prior experience as General Manager at Milk Producers Council, as well as growing up on a California dairy farm, has given him valuable perspective as he served on CDI’s leadership team the past eight years in escalating roles.

“Rob brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to this role,” said Vanderham. “His strategic thinking and industry knowledge will be invaluable as we navigate the evolving landscape of the dairy industry. We are confident that he is the right person to lead this cooperative into a bright future.”

Anderson and Vandenheuvel will work closely together over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition.

“I am deeply honored to be entrusted with the leadership of this incredible cooperative,” said Vandenheuvel. “I’m excited to build upon the strong foundation laid by Brad and work alongside our dedicated team to serve our members and customers.”

California Ag Today2025-01-29T14:10:26-08:00January 29th, 2025|