Tillamook Auction on eBay Raises Money to Help Farmers
Tillamook is one of the best-loved brands in cheese. Imagine putting a fridge full of Tillamook cheese in your kitchen, knowing you’re helping farmers in a Tillamook auction.
Tillamook County Creamery Association – a 113-year-old farmer-led and owned dairy co-operative – has launched its 2022 All For Farmers initiative. All For Farmers is devoted to preserving farmland, assisting farmers in financial need, and supporting the overall future of farming. Now in its third year, funds generated by the TCCA All For Farmers initiative have been used to help permanently protect more than 10,000 acres of farmland nationwide.
The 2022 edition of All For Farmers will feature a one-of-a-kind virtual auction including a range of never-before-offered items and exclusive experiences. All proceeds from the auction will be donated directly to American Farmland Trust – a national non-profit dedicated to preserving farmland and helping farmers thrive. The All For Farmers Auction bidding is open until Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT on eBay.
Auction items:
Night at the Tillamook Creamery – Pack up the sleeping bags and pick 24 besties for an exclusive, first-time-ever overnight at the Creamery in the heart of Tillamook County near the beautiful Oregon Coast. TCCA will provide dinner, dessert, snacks, breakfast, and specially curated activities and swag for the whole crew. Opening bid: $1,500.- 1962 Volkswagen Type 2 Double Cab Tillamook-Branded Bus – Turn heads when rolling through town in this one-of-a-kind restored, vintage VW pick-up – a retired member of the iconic TCCA “Yum Bus” fleet. Ideal for the auto enthusiast or those looking for a cute classic to cruise to the farmers market, this truck is sure to bring a smile to the streets. Opening bid: $20,000.
- Summer Weekend Stay at Maine’s Turner Farm– A two-night stay for four at the Turner Farm Guest House in picturesque North Haven, Maine. This relaxing weekend away includes farm-to-table culinary experiences, exploring the nature preserve and scenic views, and private beach and dock access. Opening bid: $450.
SMEG Fridge Stocked With Tillamook Cheddar – A true super fan needs a special fridge just for cheese. This Orange mini SMEG fridge is fully stocked and packed with 15 pounds of assorted Tillamook cheeses, just in time for the holidays ahead. Opening bid: $250.- 2012 Maker’s Reserve Mother Loaf – Aged for a decade, this 40-pound block is TCCA’s longest-aged cheddar, and the sharpest, boldest, biggest block ever released. This one-of-a-kind Mother Loaf is the perfect secret weapon for everything from holiday hosting to decadent snacking. Opening bid: $150.
- A Year’s Worth of Groceries from Giant Food – For food lovers in the mid-Atlantic: the chance to win a year’s worth of groceries from Giant Food – you read that right. Auction item contains 52 gift cards with $100 value each that can be redeemed at any Giant Food store within Delaware, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Opening bid: $500.
The TCCA All For Farmers initiative benefits AFT and its Brighter Future Fund grant program. Since the Brighter Future Fund’s creation in 2020, TCCA and AFT’s partnership has generated $3.2 million for AFT efforts to support farmers from coast-to-coast through fund-raising efforts and direct corporate giving. In turn, the AFT Brighter Future Fund has helped 330 farmers in more than 44 states and Puerto Rico, including many that are under-served in agriculture, such as farmers of color, female, and LGBTQ+ farmers.
“As a farmer-owned co-op and a Certified B Corporation® (B Corp™), TCCA is dedicated to being a force for good in the world,” said Jocelyn Bridson, Director of Environment & Community Impact at TCCA. “Doing right by the cows and farms, people and products, and for the community and the environment is not just about staying true to our core values, it’s about supporting farms and underrepresented farmers across the country to do the same, for generations to come.”
Visitors at the Tillamook Creamery can also support the initiative, with the option to round up and donate to AFT on every purchase made. Direct donations to the AFT Brighter Future Fund can also be made at AllForFarmers.com
“American Farmland Trust is grateful for the generous support from Tillamook and our brand partners,” said Ryan Lauer, Director of Corporate Partnerships at AFT. “The proceeds from these fantastic auction items will enable marginalized farmers across the US to build resiliency, access land, and improve farm viability.”
Auction items are available for viewing now at ebay.com/AllForFarmersAuction. To learn more about the issues that farmers face and to read stories about farmers who have been supported by the All For Farmers campaign and the Brighter Future Fund, visit AllForFarmers.com.
For updates of interest to the dairy industry, subscribe to Gourmet News. See our Fall Cheese Guide here.
Cal-Maine Names Miller President/CEO; Baker Stays as Board Chair
Photo: Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.
Cal-Maine Foods Inc.’s board of directors has named Sherman L. Miller president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. He succeeds Dolph Baker as chief executive officer.
Baker will retain his role as chairman of the board and as an executive officer, and will remain actively involved in managing the company, with a focus on strategy, capital allocation, advising the senior management team and leading the board. This transition is consistent with the board’s succession planning process.
Sherman Miller joined the company in 1996 and has served in various management positions during his 26-year tenure, most recently as president and chief operations officer. He was elected president in 2018, chief operations officer in 2011 and vice president of operations in 2007. Prior to this, he served in management positions at various processing plant locations including Chase, Kan.; Delta, Utah; and Edwards, Miss. He became a member of the Cal-Maine Foods board in 2012.
He will remain interim COO until a successor is named. Miller serves as a director of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and United Egg Producers, and past director of the American Feed Industry Association. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in poultry science.
“Sherman has dedicated his entire career to Cal-Maine Foods and is extremely well qualified for this leadership position, having the right complement of operational experience and strategic vision,” Baler said. “He has been a proven leader in managing our operations through the various market cycles that are characteristic of our industry.
“Under his leadership, the company has achieved tremendous growth, and he has the full confidence of the board that he is the right person to lead the company forward. Sherman is well-respected within the company, by our customers and throughout our industry. I look forward to our continued strong working relationship as we execute our growth strategy.”
“I am proud and honored to assume this role with Cal-Maine Foods,” Miller said. “Dolph has been a tremendous leader and mentor, and we will continue to benefit from his valuable insight and deep knowledge of the company. He has established Cal-Maine Foods as a leader in our industry, and we will continue to work together and build upon this proud legacy and history of success.
“Cal-Maine Foods has a proven business model with a favorable product mix, a strong focus on efficient and sustainable operations, and a solid base of valued customers. With the support of our capable and experienced management team and an outstanding team of employees throughout our operations, I am excited about the opportunities ahead for Cal-Maine Foods.”
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. is primarily engaged in the production, grading, packing, marketing and distribution of fresh shell eggs, including conventional, cage-free, organic, brown, free-range, pasture-raised and nutritionally enhanced eggs. The company, which is headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss,, is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States and sells the majority of its shell eggs in states across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.
For updates on food and beverage industry companies, subscribe to Gourmet News.
Laura Chenel Goat Yogurt Line Discontinued Due to Rising Costs
Laura Chenel is discontinuing production of its award-winning probiotic goat yogurt because the recent rising costs of milk and other materials, which means that the company can no longer produce this product at an affordable price, according to a letter sent to customers from National Sales Director BJ Frank.
Effective Sept. 30, Laura Chenel will discontinue the Laura Chenel Probiotic Goat Yogurt line (Plain & Vanilla 4.75 ounces and Plain 23 ounces.).
“We are committed to bringing good, wholesome food to home cooks and chefs across the nation,” Frank wrote. “With this in mind, for the last few years, we’ve made delicious, award-winning, gut-friendly probiotic goat yogurt that was well received by our consumers.
“Other than freeing up resources, this change does not impact any of our other product lines at Laura Chenel or within our family of brands, St. Benoit Creamery and Marin French Cheese Co.,” Frank wrote.
Laura Chenel introduced a new chapter in American cheese in 1979 when she started making farmstead goat cheese with milk from her goats and techniques she learned in France. Today, Laura Chenel still embodies its founding namesake’s trailblazing spirit as a leading producer of fresh and aged goat cheeses crafted with fresh goat’s milk from family-owned farms in California, Oregon, Nevada and Idaho. Located in the heart of Sonoma County,
Laura Chenel is the first creamery in the United States to be awarded the prestigious LEED Gold certification for achievement in green building sustainability. Its commitment to environmental practices, such as solar energy and water recycling, helps preserve the terroir for generations to come.
October’s Gourmet News brings our Fall Cheese Guide. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!