Founded in 2001 by six Amish dairy-farming families, Goot Essa makes small-batch farmhouse cheese in rural Pennsylvania. The family-run creamery works directly with nearby farm suppliers and uses traditional, handcrafted methods to turn fresh milk into cave-aged European-style cheeses. Its mission remains closely tied to keeping family farms in operation and supporting Pennsylvania dairy farmers.
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Calkins CreameryAt Highland Farm in Honesdale, Calkins Creamery turns milk from its own registered Holstein herd into small-batch artisan cheese, including raw-milk wheels aged in a former underground wine cave. The creamery is part of a sixth-generation family farm established in 1841, with cheesemaker and owner Emily Montgomery carrying the farm’s tradition into products such as its award-winning Noble Road Brie and distinctive Vampire Slayer. Its cheeses have earned recognition from the American Cheese Society, the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and the World Championship Cheese Contest.HONESDALE, PA
Birchrun Hills FarmBirchrun Hills Farm is a first-generation, family-owned dairy farm and on-site creamery where the Miller family turns milk from its herd of about 80 Holstein cows into handcrafted cheese. In northern Chester County, Ken and Sue Miller work alongside their sons Randy and Jesse, growing much of the herd’s feed and aging cheeses in underground caves. The farm has made cheese since 2006 and is known for its award-winning Birchrun Blue, including a first-place Pennsylvania Farm Show honor.CHESTER SPRINGS, PA
Lively Run Goat Dairy Farm & CreamerySince 1982, family-owned Lively Run Goat Dairy Farm & Creamery has made small-batch artisan cheeses on its Interlaken, New York, farm, using milk from partner farms across the Finger Lakes and beyond. One of New York’s original farmstead cheesemakers, it is known for award-winning cheeses including Cayuga Blue and Finger Lakes Gold, while caring for its animals and stewarding the land through sustainable farming. Visitors can meet the goats and taste the cheeses at the seasonal farm shop.INTERLAKEN, NY
Perrystead DairyPerrystead Dairy is an urban Philadelphia creamery making American original cheeses from milk sourced through small family farms focused on sustainability and animal husbandry. Founded by cheesemaker Yoav Perry, who has spent more than 18 years mastering the craft, the creamery opened in spring 2021 and has earned international and domestic recognition for cheeses such as Intergalactic and The Real Philly Schmear. Its products connect careful farm practices with a handmade, city-based aging and cheesemaking operation.PHILADELPHIA, PA