Gluten is a protein found in foods made with wheat and related grains. It gives an elasticity to dough which helps its shape form when rising and is used as an additive to foods that are low on protein. The grains we eat today were introduced almost ten thousand years ago by people in the "Far East." Eventually the Romans brought grains throughout Europe, but it took almost a thousand years before they were affordable and easy enough to produce to be found in every kitchen. Today, grains are more glutinous than grains from past centuries due to newly developed agricultural practices. As long as gluten has been in the diet of humans, we are only now finding that it can pose a threat to the human body.

Over the past decade, there has been an astronomical push to support the gluten-free diet. It is said to be sabotaging the health of Celiac patients, and even those without the disease. There are, "...more than 300 symptoms of Celiac Disease." From abdominal pains, to depression and irritability, the gluten intolerent and Celiac Disease sufferers must be very weary of their diets. According to the Mayo Clinic, Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance, "...is over four times more common today than it was 50 years ago."

Organic is this decade’s most common buzzword in the natural foods market.  However, organic farming is far from new. For thousands of years before modern fertilizers and chemicals were used, farmers relied on techniques such as crop rotation, manure fertilizers and other natural forms of pest control. Today, the majority of farming in the U.S. is done conventionally using chemicals for fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides.  The good news is, despite this, the organic industry in the US is growing.

The 2012 Organic Industry Survey was recently released by the Organic Trade Association (O.T.A) showing that due to consumer choice in the U.S., the organic industry grew by 9.5 percent in 2011 to reach over $31 billion in sales.  The growth of this industry is the “fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture for over a decade,” Christine Bushway, Executive Director and CEO of the O.T.A stated.   “Consumers are increasingly engaged and discerning when they shop, making decisions based on their values and awareness about health.” Their purchasing decisions are attributed to the higher levels of education and awareness concerning organic versus conventional products.

April 22nd, Earth Day, as we like to call it, is a day that fosters great appreciation for the environment and status of our home. Earth Day began in 1970 as U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson was inspired to educate and make the populous more aware of the planet's needs. Encouraged by oil spills in the late 60s, the first Earth Day had over 20 million participants; today it is observed by over 500 million people and 175 countries worldwide.

Rumiano Cheese Company practices Earth Day every day, as we support a sustainable business model. One example of our sustainability efforts is our state of the art wastewater treatment plant which reduces our total solid loadings into the sewage system of Crescent City by 99%. The facility biologically treats about 30,000 gallons of water used to clean the cheese-making equipment per day. The wastewater facility has allowed an additional 1,500 water and sewer hook-ups for the city of Crescent City.

The Non-GMO Project is celebrating April as Earth Month -- in recognition of April 22nd being Earth Day. With the Non-GMO Project's "Non-GMO Challenge" in full effect what better way to enjoy eating verified non-GMO products than eating Rumiano Cheese? If you are in Northern California, here's your chance to sample some of the only verified organic non-GMO cheese in the world. Whole Foods Market will be doing demos of Rumiano Cheese in select locations throughout Nor-Cal. Take a look at the list below to see if your local Whole Foods Market will be demoing Rumiano Cheese:

• Napa 4/9
• San Rafael 4/11
• Santa Cruz 4/11
• Fresno 4/12
• Palo Alto 4/12
• Folsom 4/12
• Mill Valley 4/12
• Novato 4/14
• Monterey 4/14
• Blossom Hill 4/15
• Redwood City 4/16
• San Ramon 4/17
• Roseville 4/21 (Edited 4/16 3:15PM)
• Coddingtown 4/23
• Franklin 4/23
• Blithedale 4/23
• Santa Rosa 4/26

Keep in mind, all dates are subject to change. If you might have missed a date, do not fear, you can still purchase the Rumiano Family Organic line of cheese at the stores mentioned! Keep eating healthy, organic and non-GMO for Earth Month while keeping up on the Non-GMO Challenge.

Written in collaboration with Joby Rumiano

The Non-GMO Project is an organization created to bring awareness to the ever-growing market of genetically engineered foods in the United States. It is America's only third-party verification for the production of non-GMO (genetically modified organism) food products. This nonprofit's mission is simple; they are committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO products, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices.

The Non-GMO Project began with natural food retailers who were interested in having readily available information on the genetically modified foods America was consuming and the potential risks of doing so. The organization pushed for the labeling of genetically modified organisms in foods and became the only third-party verification program for non-GMO products. In 2008, the program added the first products to the verified non-GMO lists and has been growing ever since.

The list of verified non-GMO products includes everything from soy milk to body lotion, but until 2011 there were no verified cheese products. Because of our interest in supplying a nutritious and healthy product, Rumiano Cheese Company, after insuring that all of the ingredients in the supply chain in the production of our cheese were non-GMO, went on to verify that the feed the dairy cows were consuming was non-GMO as well. As a result of these efforts, Rumiano cheese became the first ever organic verified non-GMO cheese in the world.

At Natural Products Expo West 2012, the Rumiano Cheese Company was proud to announcethe approval for distribution of fourteen new products for the United States' East Coast. United Natural Foods (UNFI) will begin distribution of the "Rumiano Family Organic" (RFO) line of organic verified non-GMO cheese in the "eastern region" later this Spring.

UNFI is the nation's leading independent natural foods distributor which supplies the continental U.S. from coast to coast, and has approved the allocation of the only verified non-GMO cheese under the Non-GMO Project. Announced at a broker meeting, the values of the RFO cheese line were explained and discussed with brokers from across the United States.

Last week, Rumiano Cheese Company was busy meeting and greeting at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. This convention is the largest natural, organic food conference in the world, bringing in attendees from across the globe. It was a truly fascinating sight seeing the over 3,000 exhibitors showcasing their organic and health conscious products. The Rumiano Cheese booth was no exception, as we showed off our newest organic non-GMO verified cheese.

This expo was a great chance to meet with old friends in the industry, as well as meet new ones. The show was 10AM to 6PM daily, allowing all those interested plenty of time to stop by the Rumiano booth for samples and a chat. It was clear that the Rumiano Cheese Co. booth was a hot-spot of activity, as there were never less than two or three people stopped at any given time. Some had said there was a "buzz" of positivity surrounding the booth that attracted convention goers. From the inside, we saw this "buzz," as we found our supply of samples becoming smaller and smaller. It was extremely flattering for all of us involved -- as nearly every passerby stopped to eat samples and ask a few questions.

The Rumiano Cheese Company's artisan Dry Monterey Jack with Peppercorns has just received fourth place in the World Championship Cheese Contest earlier today with a score of 97.85. It placed fourth only missing third place by .05 points in the "Flavored Hard Cheese" category. This cheese has been one of the company's most notable and highly praised cheese through the decades, as the first generation Rumiano's were said to have developed the aged wheel for markets in the early years of the 20th century.

This isn't the first time Rumiano Cheese Co. has received prizes or mentions in competitions; the last two years, Rumiano Cheese Co. has collected over eight gold medals and first place awards from the California State Fair, American Cheese Society Competition and Los Angeles International Dairy Competition. This is the second time this cheese has climbed to a fourth place ranking in the World Championship Cheese Contest as well.

You can see the full list of results at the World Championship Cheese Contest website. 

We have just released our latest video highlighting the Rumiano Cheese Company's production process. First, John Rumiano, Vice President, passionately discusses the production attributes of Rumiano's conventional and organic verified non-GMO cheese. He explains how the damp coastal weather of Crescent City, California -- where all Rumiano milk is produced -- allows the Rumiano Cheese Company to make some of the finest possible dairy products in the world. He also notes the importance and pride in being the world's first verified non-GMO cheese. Secondly, John explains that the cheese Rumiano produces has always been the way it is today. We have always used wholesome grass-fed milk and an organic production process; the only difference being, Rumiano Cheese is now verified organic and non-GMO (which is the first of its kind). Finally, the video encompasses the love that each party has for the process in making Rumiano Cheese. The dairy farmers love their animals, the same as the Rumiano Cheese Company loves their cheese, and because of their combined passion, a quality product is made.

The "Just Label It!" campaign is a collective effort by the American people supporting the labeling of genetically engineered foods. According to the Just Label It campaign website, polls by MSNBC, ABC News, and Washington Post have all suggested that over 90% of the American public believe genetically modified organisms (GMO's) in our food must be labeled; however the FDA is yet to act. Of the many reasons Americans want GE foods labeled, the most common and outstanding is the right to know what they are eating and how it affects them.

The Rumiano Cheese Company will be attending the Natural Products Expo West and you are invited to stop by our booth (#5050) for some delicious samples of our organic non-GMO verified cheese!

The Natural Product Expo started in 1981, connecting natural foods retailers, manufacturers and the natural health community, which has since become a booming industry. Being a catalyst for the natural food market, the first Natural Product Expo West brought in over 3,000 industry members together. Today the expo brings in over 55,000 retailers, vendors, manufacturers and health food community members as well as over 3,000 exhibits showcasing products. Rumiano Cheese is proud to share its all natural cheese and is excited to attend this year's expo.

Expo West is right around the corner, so prepare yourself for an exciting and educational three days. And make sure booth #5050 is a stop on your list!

The values and innovation of the Rumiano Cheese Company have roots that go back almost a century. The first generation of Rumiano's to emigrate to the United States, brothers Fred, Richard and John held the belief that the hardships of life were conquerable by keeping dedicated values of work ethic in mind. These brothers had a dream to become prosperous and successful, living up to the ideology of the "American Dream." It began with an attempt at gold mining outside of Sacramento, California, in Amador County. The struggling brothers were about 50 years too late, as the California gold-rush had already reaped the benefits of gold mining. They decided their time would be better spent in the San Francisco ship yards during World War I. Richard later married Leontin Ray in San Francisco. Shortly after, the brothers were persuaded to move to Willows, California, about 100 miles north of Sacramento. 

Perhaps the most valuable pearl of wisdom I've learned growing up was, work hard. I've definitely attempted to keep this mindset alive to some degree. Around the age of eleven or twelve, my dad, John Rumiano (VP of Rumiano Cheese), was unloading trucks multiple nights a week. When Tuesday night came around, my twin brother Raymond and I would look forward to "helping" him load and unload trucks -- although our size restricted helping him.

"As an artisan cheese maker, I was interested in visiting Rumiano's production facility in Crescent City.  I was blown away by the company's dedication to sustainability in all of its practices from A to Z.  Theirs is a system that strives to eliminate waste, find ways to convert its waste outputs into inputs, improve energy efficiency in all of its processes and promote fair practices in the industry.  The company has as much emphasis on reducing its ecological footprint as it does on producing high quality cheeses.  One can see this simply by walking through the facility - it's refreshing to visit a production room where everyone takes pride in what they are creating.  From Rumiano's recent development of its waste water treatment facility for reuse of our most precious resource, to its local dairy milk procurement practices, to its conversion of the whey biproduct (in a normal facility, this is waste or livestock feed) into nourishing protein for human consumption, to its water heating process that increases energy efficiency, Rumiano Cheese Co. is a true closed-loop production system.  What's most remarkable is that these efficiencies are self-driven; they seem to be part of a larger vision towards preserving the ecological systems on which the company will depend far into the future."

The great health benefits and top quality of grass-fed dairy are no surprise to the team at Rumiano Cheese Company. We use locally sourced milk from pasture-raised cows for all of our dairy products. (Read more about Our Farms to learn all the details on that.)

Jo Robinson's article Super Natural Milk provides great examples of just why we're so committed to our top-quality dairy ingredients. Grass-fed milk has more of the balanced EFAs (essential fatty acids), beneficial fats, beta-carotene, and vitamins A and E—all elements that keep our bodies in healthy balance!

To learn more, read about grass-fed dairy and farming at eatwild.com.