Chester County is a cheesy place. In proximity of both dairy-producing farmlands and metropolitan centers, the county is home to some of the best cheese makers on the East Coast. With such a specialized market, you may think that the fight to your cracker was a bitter and brutal battle. But as it turns out, the old kids song had it wrong: the best cheese no longer stands alone.
After voicing some concerns and worries about properly marketing their products, Chester Countys cheese makers decided to unite to form the Chester County Cheese Artisans, a business development group and website devoted strictly to Chester cheese. With a little help from the Chester County Economic Development Council, Chesters cheese makers are meeting to plan events, share best practices and truly make a better cheddar.
After meeting with the cheese makers, I realized that despite living close by, they didnt know each other, says CCEDC organizer Sue Milshaw. And when I started talking to them and hearing their issues, I realized there were some similarities.
Beyond increasing visibility, the cheese makers wanted to branch out and partner with other retailers like wineries and gift companies. For CCEDC, cheese could become a growth industry for the region. With the dairy industry not doing as well as in prior years, cheese making produces another buyer for local farmers. And with sustainable farming practices and more buzz created around cheese making, Milshaw believes Chester County could become the Sonoma of the east.
But if you ask the cheese makers themselves, the group allows them to learn from one another, making a product they can stand by and making the whole region stronger in the process.
Theres power in numbers and I thought we could help and learn from each other, says cheese artisan and co-owner of Amazing Acres Goat Dairy Debbie Mikulak. There is always something to learn. You cant just Google how to make a Bergeron or something like that. Its even hard to find books on it. Its much better to learn from someone who has done it and then I can help other people learn.
Source: Sue Milshaw, Chester County Economic Development Council
Writer: John Steele