Community Stories to be Shared at June Celebration of Marin French Cheese 150th Anniversary
Founded in 1865, Marin French Cheese Company is celebrating 150 years of artisan cheese making at its original Hicks Valley Ranch location, known to locals as the Cheese Factory. A picnic party to appreciate present and past employees, neighbors and loyal customers will be held Sunday June 14th 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, outdoors on the lawn. For this momentous “community conversation,” Marin French is collecting stories reflecting the generations of family traditions, working, playing, romancing and hanging out at the “Cheese Factory.” During the event, Marin historian and author Dewey Livingston will emcee the story-telling on stage, interspersed with music performances by local SSU graduates’ band, the Dixie Giants.
The day’s activities include cheesemaking demonstrations by the award-winning Marin French team and a close-up look at beekeeping by Bonnie Morse of Bonnie Bee Company, with a sampling of honey from the Marin French hives. Producers from the local food shed will have market-style tables to sample and sell: Sparkling mead, beer, cider, breads and baked goods, pickles and preserves, cheeses from the California Artisan Cheese Guild and an offering of small lunch plates, reasonably priced.
Stories are being collected via email, written cards and interviews. For more information contact Lynne Devereux, [email protected]. Here are three ways to submit your story:
Tell YOUR STORY about memories of the Cheese Factory
1. Write your story on a card with your name and phone contact, and mail to:
Stories at Marin French
7500 Red Hill Rd.
Petaluma, CA 94952
2. -or- Email your story to: [email protected]
3. -or- call Lynne for a phone interview: 925-872-6691
Stories can be short or long, recent or cherished memories of long ago. Stories will be on display or told on stage at the 150th Anniversary Appreciation Picnic Party, June 14th.
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About Marin French Cheese Company:
Founded in 1865 Marin French Cheese Company is the longest continuously operating cheese company in America, celebrating 150 years in 2015 with a unique history of handcrafting traditional and original soft-ripening cheeses. Since the days of the Gold Rush, Marin French has practiced time-honored cheesemaking techniques, using only fresh milk from neighboring family dairy farms. It has grown from a small family business to an expanded, state-of-the-art facility, producing cheeses that are sold nationally and regularly earn top honors in international cheese competitions. At its idyllic Hicks Valley Ranch location in Northern California, Marin French hosts visitors from around the world to sample its distinctive cheeses, enjoy a picnic on the lawns and visit its retail shop open to the public year-round. .