ABOUT California Cheese Trail – which includes CheeseTrail.org, the California Cheese Trail map and the California Cheese Trail app – promotes artisan cheesemakers and family farmers. It’s the only project/website that connects people to the cheesemakers, their tours, cheesemaking classes and cheese events throughout California. CHEESE TRAIL FOUNDER Vivien Straus, a longtime organic food and sustainable farming advocate, developed the Cheese Trail idea in 2010. The map is now in its eighth printing (over 460,000 distributed), has increased the visibility, sales and appreciation of cheesemakers throughout California. Vivien grew up on her family’s dairy in Marshall. She helped build her brother’s company Straus Family Creamery, serving as VP of Marketing. Later, she served as Public Relations Coordinator and led creamery tours for Cowgirl Creamery, which is where she developed her knowledge of cheese. The Cheese Trail, is a nonprofit project, developed out of a need for North Bay cheesemakers to get the word out about their existence. Due to its success, the project has been expanded to include all cheesemakers. Currently Vivien manages the Straus Home Ranch, a farm and venue. Elsewhere, she is a writer and performer. Besides TV and film credits, she performed her one-woman show E-i-E-i-OY! In Bed with the Farmer’s Daughter, is a MOTH StorySLAM winner, and is currently working on a new performance piece.