Frequently Asked Questions
The following are frequently asked questions about Rumiano Cheese and our products. For additional questions and more information, Contact Us.
- What does it mean to be Non-GMO?
- Is Rumiano Cheese free of artificial hormones, such as rBST?
- What is the source of the enzymes used to make your cheeses? Specifically, are these enzymes from vegetarian sources or from animals?
- Do you use a good quality salt with all the natural minerals intact?
- What is the highest temperature you use in making your raw cheddar cheeses?
- Why are Rumiano Cheese Company products so yellow in color?
- How long will cheese last in the refrigerator?
What does it mean to be Non-GMO?
Rumiano's selection of organic cheeses and butter is certified Non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project (nongmoproject.org). GMOs are "genetically modified organisms." We share the belief that everyone deserves an informed choice about whether or not to consume genetically modified organisms.
To learn more, read our blog post about non-GMO.
Is Rumiano Cheese free of artificial hormones, such as rBST?
Yes, all of the cheese manufactured by the Rumiano Cheese Company is free of artificial hormones and all of the dairy producers sign an affidavit stating that they do not inject their cows with artificial hormones, such as rBST.
What is the source of the enzymes used to make your cheeses? Specifically, are these enzymes from vegetarian sources or from animals?
All Rumiano Cheeses are made using a vegetable based microbial coagulant instead of animal rennet making it approved for the vegetarian lifestyle safe.
Do you use a good quality salt with all the natural minerals intact?
Organic Sea Salt is used for preservation and flavor in all of the Rumiano Cheese Company products.
What is the highest temperature you use in making your raw cheddar cheeses?
All of our raw milk cheeses are heat-treated at a maximum of 135 degrees Fahrenheit for 16 seconds and aged a minimum of 60 days.
Why are Rumiano Cheese Company products so yellow in color?
Rumiano Cheese Company butter and cheese may be slightly more yellow than other mass-produced cheese because of the type of milk that is used. Rumiano Cheese Company cheese and butter are made with milk from Jersey cows, which are the brown cows, not the black and white spotted Holstein cows. Jersey cows are bred for manufacturing milk while the Holstein cows are bred for fluid milk. The color of the milk is a result of our cows feeding on year round abundant pastures of the Northern California coast. Lush green grass which is high in beta-carotene and Vitamin A will give the milk a very rich yellow looking color which is apparent in all of our cheese and butter.
How long will cheese last in the refrigerator?
It depends on the type of cheese and the packaging. If a cheese is high in moisture or soft, it will last a shorter amount of time than a hard cheese. Typical cheeses that have a long shelf life 1-4 weeks would be hard or semi-hard cheese such as Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, Swiss, and Cheddar. Typical cheeses that have a short shelf life 1-2 weeks are Brie, Ricotta, and Fresh Mozzarella.
