Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: sheep
- Animal Products: dairy
Practices
- Animal Production: grazing - rotational
Proposal summary:
To improve the quality, consistency and efficiency of production of a cooperatively produced cheese with the help of an experienced technical advisor. Vermont Shepherd Cheese is a high quality aged sheeps' milk cheese made on individual farms is marketed around the country and available in gourmet food shops and restaurants. The seven producers of this cheese hope to examine the problems involved in creating a cheese of consistent high quality which can be sold under a common name. Cheeses are graded each month at the aging cave by a panel of 3 - a producer, an ager from the cave, and a retailer. At this point approximately 80% of cheeses are of 1st quality and remaining 20% of lower quality. About 1-2% of the total production is rejected as gassy or 'bad' tasting.