Marin Independent Journal

MALT buys 714-acre West Marin dairy

By Mark Prado, IJ reporter

Friday, January 21, 2005 - The development rights of the 714-acre Robert Giacomini Dairy in Point Reyes Station have been purchased for $1.8 million by the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, protecting the property permanently for agricultural use and as open space.

The land is visible from Highway 1, Inverness and the Point Reyes National Seashore and is a key property in West Marin's landscape. In operation since 1960, the dairy is one of the largest and most productive in Marin.

MALT paid the appraised value of $1.8 million for the rights, with money coming from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation through a $1.1 million grant and the California State Coastal Conservancy, which contributed $750,000.

"This is public money well spent," said Sam Schuchat, executive officer of the Coastal Conservancy. "Thanks to MALT's good work, we're protecting the beauty of Marin County's coast while helping a family farm continue its productive use of the land."

A West Marin rancher for more than 40 years and a former national Dairyman of the Year, Robert Giacomini and his wife, Dean, said they decided to sell an easement to MALT because they wanted to preserve the ranch for future generations.

In 2001, the Giacomini family diversified its operation to include the production of cheese with milk from their own cows. That product, Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese, is the only nationally distributed farm-produced blue cheese in the United States. Three of the Giacomini daughters are directly involved in the business.

"And we've got eight little cheese makers coming up," Bob Giacomini said, referring to his grandchildren.