Our Story

     Paul Schmidt is a third generation dairyman.  He was raised in Elk Grove, CA on a dairy that his father managed. Paul began raising and showing cows through 4H when he was in elementary school.  He purchased his first cows and rented land while still in high school. Before Paul graduated from high school, the own­er sold the farm and Paul was forced to sell his cows, but his passion for farm life and milking cows continued.  In 1977 Paul purchased a 40 acre farm in Orland and began raising a herd of dairy cows again.

    In 2002 he started dreaming about turning his excellent fresh raw milk into a value added product. In 2005 Paul began building a cheese plant next to his milking barn. Paul believed that if he could turn his milk into cheese the farm would become more financially sustainable. It was Paul’s dream to someday make Farmstead Cheese.

     In December of 2009 the State of California issued a license to Paul that allowed him to pasteurize milk and make cheese in his new building!  In 2010 He began by making Fromage Blanc and selling it to local restaurants and natural food stores in Chico.  In the fall of 2011 he decided he wanted to expand his cheese products to include mozzarella.  He had heard about a woman, Valerie Sutton, that was teaching cheese making through the Chico Recreation Department and contacted her to see if she could teach him to make mozzarella.

     Orland Farmstead is now all over Northern California in local retail stores and restaurants.