Cheese FAQs
How should I store my cheese?
Keep your cheese stored in the refrigerator between 35-45 degrees Farenheit. After opening, wrap cheese either in the original packaging or waxed/parchment paper to avoid the cheese drying out or picking up other flavors. Cheese is a living organism, with enzymes and bacteria that need air and moisture to survive. If you want to go for optimum storage, rewrap the cheese in paper and then again in plastic wrap to create a micro-environment. For more detailed storage options, please visit our friends at American Cheese Society.
My cheese box smells funky. Is that okay?
Yes! A bit of a pungent smell from your box is not only OK, it’s to be expected! Cheese is a living product, continually ripening and expelling gasses. So how do you tell a beautifully ripe cheese from a spoiled cheese? Less desirable characteristics that you want to be wary of include ammonia or sour milk aromas or if the rind is starting to break down or becomes discolored.
Where does your milk come from?
We are a farmstead creamery which means that our cheese is made from our own herd of goats on the same property. Our herd of mostly Saanen and Alpine goats is made up of strong DNA lineage and is managed to achieve the highest standards in genetics and milk quality.
How long will my cheese stay good?
All cheese continues to age and ripen until eaten. Our soft cheeses like Chèvre, Afterglow, Lake Breeze, and Lake Effect have a shelf life (or refrigeration life, really) of 4-6 weeks after departure from our facility. Our harder cheeses such as Sunny Ridge and St. Germain have a longer life closer to 12-15 weeks or more. Please refer to specific product pages for further details. And please, don’t ever freeze cheese as they may lose their texture, and in some cases flavor profiles will be seriously altered.
Is my cheese still good if there’s mold?
A cheese rind IS made of mold, so we want some “good” mold on there, like the pinkish-orange hue on our Afterglow or the dark rind with yellow patches of our St. Germain. “Bad” mold is blue-green on the exterior edges. If you see that and it’s close to or beyond the shelf life of 4-6 weeks, either dispose of OR make a cut about a ½ inch below the mold to ensure that it has been entirely removed; the remaining cheese will be fine. If there is an ammonia-like aroma or the rind is breaking down, it’s best to dispose of it entirely.
Can I purchase goat milk?
Sorry, we don’t sell our goat milk to the public.
What is the best way to serve cheese?
Cheese is best served at room temperature, so let the cheese sit out unwrapped for an hour before serving (although our Fresh Chèvre is an exception to this and can be enjoyed straight out of the fridge). To create a cheese board, we recommend including different shapes, milk types, flavor, and textures. Fruit accompaniments like apples, grapes, pears, fresh figs, peaches, or strawberries are always great; nuts, honeys, jams, and Italian mostarda nicely round out a delicious board.
Are your cheeses pasteurized?
Yes, all of our cheeses are pasteurized. Pasteurization is a process where raw milk is heated to a specified temperature and time to kill pathogens that may be found in the raw milk. By law, all milk sold to the public must be pasteurized and packaged in a licensed dairy plant.
How do I order wholesale?
Let’s do it! If you’re a new wholesaler, please complete our online Wholesale Request Form and we’ll be in touch soon. If you’ve ordered from us before, please email us. We look forward to doing business with you!
Order + Shipping FAQs
What are my shipping options?
We want our cheeses to arrive to you in the best possible condition for maximum enjoyment, and a long transit period can quickly degrade the most beautiful cheese. For this reason, we only offer select FedEx Express services to the continental US, depending on your delivery zone.
What is your return policy?
Please visit our Policies page and review our Returns + Refunds section.
When can I expect my order to arrive?
We ship orders every Tuesday, so when you place an order we ask you to select the preferred week you’d like your shipment to go out. Then, depending on whether you selected FedEx Overnight or 2Day, your package will either arrive that Wednesday or Thursday, respectively. We will send you an automated email with your tracking # when your order ships, so you can check delivery specifics via FedEx Tracking.
Can I change my order if it hasn’t shipped yet?
If your selected ship date is more than 1 week out, there’s a possibility! Contact us and well see what we can do. Changes within 3 business days of your selected ship date cannot be amended.
Can I ship to multiple addresses or PO Box?
Sorry, we are unable to ship to multiple addresses at this time. And FedEx does not deliver to PO Boxes.
What do I do if my order is damaged or incorrect?
Yikes, we hope not! In the unlikely event that your cheese is damaged or the contents of your order are incorrect, please contact us and we’ll set things right.