Joseph Farms Earns 11 Awards at 2026 California State Fair Cheese Competition

SACRAMENTO, CA — Joseph Farms Cheese Company earned 11 awards at the 2026 California State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition, with results just announced, including a Double Gold for Extra Sharp Cheddar and Gold medals for String Cheese, Marbled Jack, and Medium Cheddar.

Additional honors include Silver medals for Part Skim Mozzarella, Whole Milk Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Mild Cheddar, Queso Quesadilla, and Organic White Cheddar, along with a Bronze medal for Pepper Jack. With this year’s results, Joseph Farms has now earned more than 100 medals at the California State Fair, including Best of Show and Best of California honors in 2023.

“Joseph Farms is really proud to earn 11 awards this year at the California State Fair, including a Double Gold and three Gold medals,” said Mike Gallo, CEO of Joseph Farms Cheese Company. “At the end of the day, it comes down to how we make our cheese. We keep it all-natural and don’t take shortcuts. Our cheese is also a good source of protein and naturally has zero grams of lactose per serving. This approach has led to consistent success at the State Fair, in competitions around the world, and with customers who continue to choose Joseph Farms.”

Explore Joseph Farms’ full list of award-winning cheeses, including California’s favorite Monterey Jack, at Joseph Farms Cheese Awards (josephfarms.com/cheese-awards).

Joseph Farms cheese is made with the freshest, highest-quality Grade “A” California milk, including milk from Jersey cows known for higher butterfat and a richer, creamier taste. Joseph Farms uses only milk, cultures, rennet, and salt, with no added fillers or shortcuts to increase yield, resulting in a smooth, semi-firm texture and consistent flavor.

At Joseph Gallo Farms, we’re a third-generation, family-owned cheesemaker based in Atwater, California. We craft award-winning Joseph Farms cheese using milk from cows never treated with artificial hormones, and we prioritize animal welfare, responsible farming, and environmental stewardship in everything we do.