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Farmstead Cheeses
Massachusetts boasts a growing number of award-winning dairy specialty
products including farmstead cheeses. The industry offers a large
variety of cow and goats' milk cheeses. Half are Chevre, handmade
in small batches with milk from dairy goats. The other products are
crafted from cow's milk, including milk from brown Jerseys and black and
white Holsteins.
Over 600,000 pounds of cheese are produced from Massachusetts's artisan
farmstead dairy producers. Also important is the land that remains
in agricultural production because of the specialty farmstead dairy industry.
Agriculture maintains hundreds of thousands of acres of open space in Massachusetts.
Some of the cheese producers offer tours or invite visitors to their retail
stores. Some have mail order catalogs. Most of these cheeses
are available in supermarkets, farm stands and specialty food shops, as
well as featured in restaurants across the Bay State. Please call
the producer to order or find out where their product can be purchased.
Farm Address
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Description
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Cricket Creek Farm
1255 Oblong Rd.
Williamstown
(413) 458-5888
www.cricketcreekfarm.com |
Cricket Creek Farm is a small grass-based dairy nestled on the slopes of
the Taconic Hills, the farm consists of over 500 acres of rolling fields
and woodlots, old apple orchards and sugar bush. Our herd of 95 cows is
made up of registered Brown Swiss and Jerseys. Our Mission at Cricket Creek
is to continue the tradition of the small family far, and in doing so act
as stewards of the land. We seek to raise healthy, content animals in a
n environmentally sustainable fashion, producing high-quality dairy products
and serving as valuable members of our community. |
Gould Farm
P.O. Box 157,
100 Gould Road
Monterey
(413) 528-1804
www.gouldfarm.org |
Gould Farm produces a farmstead artisan Cheddar Cheese, made in small batches aged 2 - 6 months, from their pasteurized and rotational grazed rBST free herd of dairy cattle. The Cheddar is sold in 8 - 12-pound waxed wheels or wedges. It is distributed in a 50 miles radius of Monterey, as well as to wholesale customers in Boston. Mail order is available on request. |
Rawson Brook Farm
New Marlboro Road
Monterey
(413) 528-2138 |
Rawson Brook Farm, in business over 18 years, produces fresh cheese from their herd of 50 Alpine goats. The Chevre-style goat cheese features "tried and true" herbed varieties of Chives and Garlic, and Thyme and Olive Oil, in addition to plain. Rawson Brook Farm's cheese is in 7 oz. and one-pound resealable tubs, and five-pound tubs for wholesale accounts. |
South Mountain
Products, L.L.C.
Box 2021
Lenox
(413) 528-9529 |
Berkshire Blue Cheese is a delicious 100% raw Jersey milk blue cheese that is entirely hand-made every day in 2 3/4-pound wheels, aged 60 days. Available at specialty food stores for retail customers. Wholesale inquiries welcome. |
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Martin's Cheese Co.
221 Sodom Road
Westport
(508) 636-2357 |
Martin's Cheese Company and Dairy Farm is a third generation business, started over 78 years ago. Their Portuguese style fresh cheese is made from the highest quality pasteurized milk from their own cows on their farm in lovely Westport. The soft fresh cheese is sold in 8-ounce packages, made without preservatives or additives. |
Shy Brothers Farm
2001 Main Road
Westport Point
(508) 636-8826
www.shybrothersfarm.com |
Produce Hannahbells, tiny artisanal cheeses, from a recipe we brought back
from the Burgundy region of France. We use only the freshest milk from
our Holstein/Ayrshire herd. Hannahbells is several flavors including Classic,
Shallot, Rosemary, Red Bell Pepper, Chipotle! and Lavender. |
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Valley View Goat Cheese
278 High Street
Topsfield
(978) 887-8367
valleyviewfarm@attbi.com |
A small herd of Nubian goats produce sweet, mild milk, especially suited to fresh farmstead cheeses at Valley View Farm. Specialty cheeses include: Valley View Chevre, a soft, fresh cheese either plain, coated with pepper or herbs or with oven roasted garlic mixed in; Topsfield's Nor'Easter, a soft-ripened cheese (aged 4 weeks); and Les Boules des Chevre, spheres of soft cheese marinated in oil with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, capers and herbs. Flavored fresh soft goat cheese (plain, pepper, herb, garlic, chive) is available in 4 oz., 1-pound and 5-pound containers.
Valley View Farm also produces goat cheese Feta, and honey in 12 oz. Jars.
Though Valley View Goat Cheese in Topsfield was established in 1998, the
name dates to the property's transformation at the turn of the 20th Century
into a gentleman's farm with a commanding view in all directions. Tours
are available by appointment. |
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Chase Hill Farms
74 Chase Hill Road
Warwick
(978) 544-6327 |
Chase Hill Farms Farmstead Cheese is Organic Certified, produced from their 100 percent grass-fed cows. The mild and creamy Colby-like cheese is handcrafted in small batches from their own top quality raw milk, and aged a minimum of 60 days before sale. The cheese is rBST-free, sold in 7 - 8-pound wheels or wedges. |
Hillman Farm
305 Wilson Hill Road
Colrain
(413) 624-3646
http://www.patricdubreuil.com/
colrain/hillmanfarm/index.htm
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Hillman Farm is an organic pasture based, seasonal goat dairy. Hillman Farm's goat cheese is made from milk from their own goat herd, raised without hormones or antibiotics. Available is delicious Award winning Harvest Goat Cheese (aged 4 - 8 months) in five to ten-pound wheels. Harvest Goat Cheese has won two awards from the American Cheese Society and another award from the World Cheese Competition. Also available are soft ripened discs, about one-third pound each. |
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The Farmstead at
Mine Brook
8 Mountain Road
Charlemont
413-339-8500
www.goatrising.com
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The Farmstead at Mine Brook is home to Goat Rising and Jersey Maid cheeses.
This historical and picturesque working farm is located in the town of
Charlemont. Purebred Nubian goats and Jersey cows are complimented
by a flock of laying hens which are kept to round out its production base.
For sale in the retail store you'll find a line of both Nubian goat and
Jersey cow milk products, cheeses, bottled milk, cream and ice cream of
uncompromised quality.
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The Shepherd’s Gate
131 Union Road
Holland
(413) 245-6519
theshepherdsgate@cox.net |
The Shepard's Gate features fresh spread able chevre cheese in 12 assorted
flavors as well as yogurt in a dozen flavors in clear 6 oz. containers.
Another specialty is Gelato - an Italian style ice cream from goat’s milk
in assorted flavors including traditional and unique blends in half pints.
Fudge, hand-crafted from goat's milk is made in several varieties including
white chocolate, white chocolate with cranberries, milk chocolate or milk
chocolate with raisins and walnuts, and dark chocolate and peanut butter
budget. Shepherd's Gate's products are available at farmers’ markets and
area retail stores. Tours are available by appointment. |
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Carlisle Farmstead Cheese
43 Indian Hill Road
Carlisle
978-287-4091
carlislefarmsteadcheese.com
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Located just 20 miles northwest of Boston, Carlisle Farmstead Cheese produces
nationally award winning goat cheeses year-round from the milk of a small herd
of Oberhasli goats. Owners Tricia Smith and Michael Holland find milk quality
key to their cheese and a reflection of their goat husbandry. The goats
are hand-milked twice a day and each goat milks for 22 months. Cheese is made
each morning, combining the morning milk with chilled milk from the previous
evening. The goats enjoy pasture and browse, a variety of hays, organically
produced vegetables, herbs, and flowers from their garden, and enough grain
(some organically certified) to maintain condition. Tricia follows as many
organic practices as possible in the barn and cheesehouse.
Tricia makes both
pasteurized and raw milk cheeses, all surface-ripened. Among cheeses awarded are
Kay's Eclipse, a 1¼ pound tomme with an ashed midline and surface, which won
first place as an American Original at the 2006 American Cheese Society
competition and Ada's Honor, a 4-ounce Chabichou-style cylinder, which won a
first place and reserve Best-in-Show at the 2006 American Dairy Goat Association
competition.
To help make this small-scale dairy feasible, Tricia designed a very
small regulatory-compliant pasteurizer. To date, she has assisted
other dairy farmers in Maine, Iowa, and Connecticut in gaining regulatory
approval for use of this pasteurizer in their cheesehouses.
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Plymouth County
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Great Hill Dairy, Inc.
160 Delano Road
Marion
(508) 748-2208
www.greathillblue.com |
Great Hill Dairy is a turn of the century farm that was actively milking cows until recently. Now Great Hill dairy makes their nationally recognized gourmet quality raw milk - non-homogenized aged Blue cheese with milk procured from local Massachusetts's farms. The cheese is available in 6 pound wheels and 1.5 pound wedges carefully wrapped in foil. Also 3-pound wheels and 7 oz. foil wedges. The cheese is crafted in a unique barn of Scottish architecture. Tours are available by appointment. |
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Crystal Brook Farm
192 Tuttle Road
Sterling
(978) 422-6646
astarbard@comcast.net |
Crystal Brook Farm began making goat cheese in 1998. Their herd of 50 Saanen and Alpine goats produce all the milk used in the goat cheese operation. This allows owners Ann and Eric Starbard to control quality and freshness. Choices include 6 oz. logs of Black Pepper, Sun Dried Tomato and Basil, Garlic and Basil, Chive, Dill, Cranberry Orange, and Hickory Smoked Chevre. Two-pound packages of plain Crystal Brook Farm Chevre are also available. The award winning farm and cheese operation can be toured by appointment. |
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Julima Cheese
267 Brockelman Rd
Lancaster
978-790-7878 or 978-790-2178
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Julima Cheese Inc. is located in
picturesque Lancaster, producing a a
delicious Portuguese fresh cheese. This cheese has a "mild sweet flavor,"
and is perfect to serve for breakfast and many other occasions. The fresh cheese
with no preservatives or additives is available in 12 oz. packages.
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Smith's Country Cheese
20 Otter River Road
Winchendon
(978) 939-5738
SmithsCountryCheese.com |
Nestled in a picturesque spot on a hill in Winchendon is Smith's Country Cheese plant and store. Just behind the production area, cows pasture in the field next to the diary farm. Anyone who has enjoyed the freshness and rich flavor of farm fresh milk will enjoy this scene.
This same rich, full flavor is distinct Smith's Country Cheese Gouda and Cheddar. The cheese is made from the freshest milk possible. Cheese milk is pumped into the cheese vat just minutes after the last cow in their dairy herd is milked. The result: true farmstead cheese.
Bon Appetit magazine made mention of Smith's Country Cheese as one of the best. The Baby Gouda was a first place Blue Ribbon winner in the American Cheese Society. Farmstead Gouda is available in 10-pound, 2-pound, and 12-ounce wheels, and random weight shrink-packed wedges, Smith's Country Cheese Farmstead Cheddar is sold in 20 and 10-pound blocks, as well as shrink wrapped pieces. Spreadable Gouda spreads can be purchased in 5-pound or 8 oz. tubs.
In addition to Smith's Country Gouda and Cheddar, there are a variety of other fine cheeses and gifts to please just about everyone. Come and visit the store or call for a mail order catalog. |
Westfield Farm, Inc.
28 Worcester Road
Hubbardston
(978) 928-5110
www.chevre.com |
Located on 20 acres in Central Massachusetts, Westfield Farm has been producing award wining handcrafted goat and cow's milk cheeses since the early 1970's including Camembert aged cow's milk cheese. Their Hubbardston Blue and Classic Blue Log have earned national acclaim as two American original, surface-ripened blue cheeses. Over a dozen different cheeses are now produced using milk and dairy products from nearly farms including White Buck and chocolate goat cheese in 5 oz. to 3-pound hand wrapped and cryovac packaging. Products are available through mail order. Tours are available by appointment. |
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