Community Corner
Market Spotlight: Chef Barbara Martin
Meet the people and vendors at your weekly farmers market.
Business: Dairy Goddess
Owner/Chef: Barbara Martin
Website: www.dairygoddess.com
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Over the last few years, the dairy industry has suffered because milk prices have dropped and the price to feed dairy cattle has risen. That knowledge is what turned Barbara Martin, third-generation dairy farmer, into an entrepreneur.
In 2008, Martin took a cheese-making class that would be the catalyst for a career change. Two years later, Barbara and her family scraped enough money together to start a cheese processing plant and have their plant and product approved by the state of California. In less than a year’s time, that dream became reality.
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How does this businesswoman measure success? “I take it day by day. I think the fact that I have to increase production every month and also having a tough time keeping up with demand is a great measure that people are enjoying the product.”
In all, Martin and members of her family go to 16 farmers markets each week. They find this to be a great way to talk to their customers and find out what they want from a quality cheese. Dairy Goddess also sells its cheese at a select retail locations in the Central Valley.
One reason she chose San Ramon's market is because her cousin and one of her biggest fans, Cindy, lives here. Cindy thought San Ramon and its customers would welcome a cheese made from the milk of her family’s cows.
Martin said she also believed that customers would welcome a local business they could trust, knowing the livestock and land were treated with respect. She was right. In fact, Cindy believes so much in Dairy Goddess that she runs the booth in San Ramon each week.
Dairy Goddess sells “Fromage Blanc,” French cheese that comes in five flavors or plain. It's great with crackers as an appetizer, melted or used in baking.
If you haven’t sampled the six varieties of “Fromage Blanc,” stop by the Dairy Goddess booth at the farmers market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Bishop Ranch.
Visit the Dairy Goddess website or sanramonfarmersmarket.com to learn more.
