PETALUMA, CA
On June 14th on a ranch just outside of Petaluma, California, Marin French, known fondly by the locals as the cheese factory, celebrated its 150th anniversary with a picnic full of tastings open to all.
Lynne Devereux, Marketing & Public Relations for Marin French Cheese, Laura Chenel's, and AppleGarden Farm, was pleased with the celebration.
“Sunday’s event was our way of thanking our community, food producers, neighbors and employees for their support over so many years,” Lynne tells me. “People generously shared their stories and rekindled many memories that were vital to the authentic community spirit we wanted for the celebration. This 150th anniversary is a momentous occasion celebrating our history and looking ahead to a very bright future for Marin French Cheese."
To show the history the company holds within the town, Historian and Storyteller Dewey Livingston took the stage to share some of what he had collected about the history of the founding Thompson family, like their having a connection with the well-known historic Pierce Ranch in Petaluma. With Marilyn and Bob Thompson sharing the mic, attendees heard both family and factory stories alike - which appear to be deeply tied together from the flow of memories both shared with the crowd.
“Back then it didn’t matter how old you were,” Bob tells me, sharing that the entire family had, at some point, worked with and packaged cheese. “You were 14 or 15 and you were working.”
He and his sister recalled a time when Marin French was working with an airline, individually wrapping pieces of brie. “They were little tiny pieces,” Marilyn recalled with a smile. “Each eight ounce brie had 16 pieces in it, and we had to wrap each individual piece.”
Bob also told me about how some never leave, having started in the business in their teen years and staying with Marin French decades later. And the key family element clearly remains in the Marin French culture, overflowing into the community around it.
“It was amazing to see how the company has influenced everyone,” Liza Kaplansky, Northern California Sales Manager at Marin French Cheese & Laura Chenel's Chevre, said. “We’re so honored and thrilled to be celebrating our anniversary with the public.”
It was far more pleasure than business, with vendors offering tastings of a variety of pinots, zinfandels, and other wines, as well as oils, crackers, and (of course) the cheese!
“We are so happy with the turnout and grateful to the vendors and locals who came out to help us make the celebration even more special,” Liza tells me.
In between family and Petaluma-centric stories, a local Jazz band took the stage to keep the crowd moving. British-American author Frances Rivetti, who moved to the area with her husband, also signed copies of her book Fog Valley Crush, wich details her migration to Petaluma and how she fell in love with the area.
Overall family, colleagues, and community intertwined on a warm California Sunday to celebrate the institution and tradition of artisan cheese. Congratulations Marin French on 150 years!