OUR PASSION
IS
ARTISAN CHEESE
As ambassadors of cheese and its close-knit community, we take seriously our job to sell, care for and educate people about quality cheese, both domestic and international.
OUR STORY
When we started Tomales Bay Foods in 1995, we planned to promote and sell the best artisan and farmstead cheese from Europe, the British Isles and the United States.
WHEN WE STARTED, THE IDEA THAT SOME OF OUR LOCAL DAIRIES MIGHT SOMEDAY MAKE THEIR OWN CHEESE ON THE FARM WAS A FAR-OFF DREAM.
We couldn’t imagine that twenty years later our American cheesemakers would produce cheeses rivaling the best to be found in Europe or that the number of dairies making cheese in our Northern California region would climb from a half a dozen in 1995 to over thirty currently.
WE HAVE AN OPEN DIALOGUE WITH OUR PRODUCER PARTNERS, ALLOWING FOR HONEST FEEDBACK AND QUALITY CONTROL.
In most cases, we purchase directly from the cheesemakers and speak with them on a weekly basis, so that we can best represent their cheeses. We also regularly taste their cheeses and are able to talk about seasonal differences in flavor.
In addition, our Library of Cheese is a handy, up-to-date resource for our customers.
Wholesale Customer Resources
PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS
As active partners in the California Artisan Cheese Festival in Petaluma, Slow Cheese in Bra, Italy and the annual conference of the American Cheese Society, we invite you to join us in supporting these excellent events.
GET IN ON PROMOTIONS
Our cheesemaker partners often use our distribution and retail avenues to promote cheese through short-term discounts and store tastings. These are proven methods in drawing attention to exceptional and unique cheese and accompaniments.
JOIN AN ORGANIZATION
American Cheese Society-
a national trade association for retailers, cheesemakers and support services for artisan cheesemakers. www.cheesesociety.org
California Artisan Cheese Guild-
a support group for California cheesemakers. Check your local directory for a cheese guild near you. cacheeseguild.org
MEET OUR TEAM
We are ambassadors for cheese and the cheese community. Our team is made up of individuals with incredible integrity and a strong work ethic. Previously cheesemongers, cheesemakers, chefs, journalists, and more – we call upon our strengths to make our day-to-day work as valuable as possible. We are food people through and through.