Worst picture ever taken of Elena Hovagimian! There are very few regional cheese competitions held in this country for one very good reason-it’s a LOT of hard work! That’s why it’s amazing to me that the Agriculture Department of the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) took this on five years ago and made it an annual event. The Director, Elena Hovagimian has accomplished
Launching the Massachusetts Cheese Guild
Barbara Hanley, President of the Guild welcomed us warmly. We’re looking forward to getting to know her better. The word “guild” comes from medieval times when craftsmen and merchants formed associations to maintain standards and to protect themselves in the marketplace. There is an aspiration of political power with a guild (unlike a club), so they are usually state-wide (at least). There are currently
Frank Masciulli’s Marbled “Swissby” Cheese
Frank Masciulli Whatever Works! Frank Masciulli of Chelmsford, Massachusetts just started making his own cheese 5 or 6 months ago. He’s an engineer and he told us that he overheard a fellow he works with talking about a cheese making class he had taken. Frank had been making his own wine for 16 years (a white Zinfandel) and his own bread, so he knew
September 7-8, 2013 Raw Milk Dairy Days in Massachusetts
This Weekend and It’s Free! I just checked my calendar and realized I hadn’t told you about this exciting yearly event, sponsored by NOFA- the Northeast Organic Farming Association. This year 9 farms that sell raw milk are open to the public. You can go to any of them Saturday and Sunday for a scheduled tour or a self-guided visit. It’s a great opportunity to
The 2013 New England Regional Cheese Competition
For those of you who don’t know about The Big E (Eastern States Exposition), it is our annual, regional fair with all 6 of the New England states participating. It begins on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for 17 days. (So, this year it will be from September 13th – 29th.) Our company, New England Cheesemaking Supply Company has a long history
Career Opportunity at Smith’s Country Cheese in MA
Dave Smith (The Big Cheese, aka The Aged Gouda!) Here’s your chance to change your life… Dave Smith and his wife, Carol are almost ready to retire from Smith’s Country Cheese in Winchendon, MA. They have been making their popular farmstead cheese for 27 years. That’s a long time! They have 2 vats large enough to hold 12,000 and 5,000 pounds of milk. From this,
Upinngil Farm in Gill, Massachusetts
Sorrel Hatch and her father, Cliff serving samples at a cheese tasting last winter Raw milk, cheese, grass fed beef, strawberries, jams, whole grains (flour and wheat berries), beebalm and maple syrup are just a few of the main crops at this farm. Cliff Hatch and his daughter, Sorrel keep their farm store open from 8am until 7pm, every day of the week year round.
A Tour of SideHill Farm in Ashfield, MA
Yogurt anyone? Paul Lacinski and Amy Klippenstein have managed to build a successful yogurt business with 15 cows, 23 acres of leased grazing land and their own ingenuity. They make and sell over 800 gallons of yogurt per week! (http://www.sidehillfarm.net) SideHill was one of the farms I toured as part of Raw Milk Dairy Days, sponsored by NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association). It’s tucked away