Rose Mattus, who along with her husband Reuben created Haagen-Dazs ice cream, died in November just five days after her 90th birthday. Rose Mattus was the controller of Haagen-Dazs Inc., which later became part of Nestle.

HP Hood has recently begun production of Bravo! Brands products at its Winchester, Va. plant. The Bravo flavored milk products are shelf stable and packaged in plastic bottles which can be sold in retail, foodservice, or vending machines. The two companies signed an agreement earlier last year and production began in December.

Colorado-based Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy is in the midst of a huge expansion and has just undergone leadership change. Last month founder Jim Schott turned the company’s executive position over to Tim Overlie, a Wild Oats Markets Inc. veteran.

Schott founded the dairy four years ago. Earlier this year, Haystack struck a deal with local governments for access to 80 acres of land, that will allow it to increase its herd to 800 goats from 110.

Friendly Ice Cream Corporation intends to increase the size of its board of directors from five to seven members. The board of directors said it will offer one of the two additional seats on the board to Sardar Biglari, who controls about 14.9% of the company’s outstanding shares.

Canada is experiencing a boom in artisanal cheesemaking. Although the bulk of artisanal cheesemakers are operating in Quebec, every province in Canada except Saskatchewan and Newfoundland boasts a number of small operations on farms and in villages and towns. There is an Artisan Cheese Marketing in Toronto and Cheese Education Guild, which holds extensive courses in cheesemaking.

In the UK, a new book about the artisan cheesemakers in Cornwall was recently recognized at the 2006 British Cheese Awards. West Country Cheese Makers, written by Michael Raffael and published by Birlinn, profiles artisans who have helped pave the way for a revolution in modern British cheesemaking.

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) was recognized as the sixth Most Admired Company in Oregon for agriculture or forestry products. The Most Admired Companies awards, organized by the Portland Business Journal, were announced in December.