Sue Conley and Peggy Smith, the two chefs who co-founded Point Reyes Station, Calif.-based Cowgirl Creamery in 1997 and pioneered organic artisan cheesemaking in America, announced their retirement.

Wisconsin Cheese (Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin), Madison, Wis., said it is officially declaring cheese as the universal love language of 2021.

Rumiano Cheese Co., California’s oldest family-owned cheese company and a pioneer in organic and artisanal cheese, said construction has begun on its new 46,766-square-foot cheese processing and packaging plant one hour north of Sacramento in Willows, Calif.

Registration is now open for CheeseExpo Global Online 2021, slated to take place April 6-8, at CheeseExpoGO.org.

In early November, the Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA) recognized Chanhassen, Minn.-based Bongards Creameries with the 2020 Industrial Water Quality Achievement Award.

Founded by Josh Gentine, part of the third generation of the family-owned Sargento Foods cheese legacy, The Big Cheese was created to move a special supply of sharp cheddar from farm to table.

After using a revised bake-off format in line with the current COVID-19 protocols, the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), Tracy, Calif., said it awarded two contestants with $25,000 in the 2020 Real California Pizza Contest.