Big chains may offer convenience and low prices. But author Thomas Moore says the enchantment of the soul can be found in uniqueness rather than sameness.

That philosophy is being embraced by the people at Tomales Bay Foods in the Marin County seaside town of Point Reyes.

Huge, high volume farms in the state rely on producing a standard product. There’s that sameness again. But small growers can experiment and bring something unique to the marketplace.

At Tomales Bay Foods, some of the featured cheeses are actually processed here using milk from the Straus Family Creamery just up the road. Once again, we’re talking small and local.

The Straus Family has operated their dairy overlooking Tomales Bay since 1941. Recently, they decided to go organic. They are trying to capitalize on uniqueness. For example, there are no man-made chemicals in the fields their cows graze and they only use certified organic feeds for the herd.

Though the organic market is relatively small, the California Department of Food and Agriculture says it is growing at a rate of 20% a year.

For more information about Tomales Bay Foods and the Straus Family Creamery, contact them at the addresses and phone numbers listed below.

Tomales Bay Foods
PO Box 594
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
(415) 663-9335

Straus Family Creamery
PO Box 768
Marshall, CA 94940
(415) 663-5464

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