Why Dips? A Journey to Redefine Indulgence

Let’s start with a confession: We’re obsessed with cheese. Not just any cheese, but the kind that starts with cows grazing on Northern California’s misty Redwood Coast, where the grass is lush, the air is crisp, and the milk tastes like the land itself. For over a century, we’ve turned this milk into organic, pasture-raised cheeses. But six years ago, we asked ourselves: What if we could turn our cheese into something even more craveable?

The answer? Pepper Jack Queso and 3 Cheese Dip. Not the neon, artificially thickened kind, but dips where real cheese takes center stage. After years of tinkering, tasting, and testing, we’re finally ready to share them—and we’re honored that our Pepper Jack Queso is a 2025 NEXTY Awards Finalist. Here’s the story.

The “Why” Behind the Dips

Sometime before 2019, a casual joke in a team meeting sparked an obsession: “What if we made a queso that’s actually cheese?” Most dips rely on fillers and “cheese product,” but we wanted something different—a dip where 50% of the jar is organic, pasture-raised cheese from our own farms.

The challenge? Making it creamy without shortcuts. We swapped stabilizers for natural emulsifiers like sodium citrate. We tested organic peppers until the heat was bold but balanced. And we refused to settle until the texture was luxuriously smooth—no gloop, just goodness.

This year, after finalizing our recipe, we submitted our Pepper Jack Queso to the NEXTY Awards and were chosen to be Finalists, out 1000s of entrants. This is a prestigious honor in the natural products industry that celebrates innovation, integrity, and inspiration. Hosted by New Hope Network at Natural Products Expo West, NEXTY finalists are chosen by experts who vet thousands of products for their commitment to clean ingredients and ethical practices.

For us, this nomination isn’t just a trophy—it’s validation. Validation that:

• Clean ingredients and bold flavor can coexist.
• Our decades-long partnership with Redwood Coast family farms matters.
• Shoppers are hungry for snacks that align with their values.

The Secret Ingredient? Happy Cows

You won’t find our farmers’ names on the label, but you’ll taste their work. Our cows graze on 1–8 acres of diverse pastures, producing milk rich in omega-3s and vitamin E. It’s a labor of love – one that prioritizes animal welfare, sustainability, nutrition and quality in every drop.

This milk becomes the base of our dips: Pepper Jack Queso (slightly spicy, and just creamy enough) and 3 Cheese Dip (a melty trifecta of sharp, nutty, and savory). No artificial colors, no “natural flavors,” and no regrets.

Your Invitation to Dip Differently

Mid-March, 2025. That’s when our queso and cheese dip land at select retailers nationwide. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates, recipes, and a sneak peek at our March giveaway (hint: free cheese is involved 🎁).

As for the NEXTY Awards? We’ll be at Expo West 2025 in Anaheim, sharing samples and celebrating what truly matters: food that’s as good for the soul as it is for the planet.

Six years ago, this was a joke. Today, it’s a jar of joy. Here’s to dips that taste like they’re supposed to—no asterisks, no apologies.

With gratitude,
The Rumiano Cheese Family

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