We have been participating in the ritual of selling our wares at farmers' markets since we launched our farmstead goat dairy-creamery business in 2005. Back in those early days, we we were completely wet behind the ears. We were miking about 20 goats and making only fresh chevre. We were not business people and knew nothing about how to sell cheese. Most of the market goers in Urbana either had never tasted fresh goat cheese before, or had experienced traumatic tastings. We spent many hours sampling our cheeses, explaining why our goat cheese wasn't scary, and gently coaxing hesitant customers to give our chevre a try. Social media was barely a glimmer in most people's eyes, so we relied on face-to-face interactions with our customers and word of mouth. We tried to set up our farm stand in an aesthetically pleasing manner, and display our cheeses in ways that drew people to our stand. It was just me and Wes running the whole show, with one part-time employee.
Little by little our customer fan base grew and we began to expand our repertoire to include bloomy rind goat cheeses and even a raw-milk tomme. The farmers' market is the best proving ground for farms like ours to demonstrate product viability. It has always been the place for us to get immediate feedback on what people like, what they don't like or how they want to experience our cheeses. It has been the place where we launched new cheeses and our goat milk gelato. Over the years, the market shopper demographics have changed, customer exuberance has waxed and waned, yet it remains the best way for us to keep our fingers on the pulse of those who believe in a robust local food economy.
Farmers' Market and Farm Happenings
This Saturday, rise early and shine for opening day of the outdoor farmers' market, Urbana's Market at the Square. Our location is the same as last year: on the south end of the market at the south end of aisle two. Hours are 7 am to 12 noon.
We have a LOT of cheese for you this weekend, so look for special offers at the market. We'll be bringing the following cheeses:
Fresh chevre--plain, herbs de Provence, cracked pepper
Fresh chevre with chive & lemon zest-nothing says spring better than this cheese
Fresh chevre with "everything bagel" seasoning-forget the cream cheese!
Truffle chevre--NEW!! an aged/dried chevre ball mixed with olive oil-cured truffles and rubbed with cracked peppercorns. Amazing for grating over pasta or roasted veggies!
Angel Food mini-brie
Little Bloom on the Prairie-mixed milk camembert
Black goat-ash-ripened goat bloomy rind-super ripe and gooey--30% off regular price
Fleur de la Prairie-all-goat bloomy rind with dried herbs and edible flowers-also getting pretty soft, so 25% off these beauties
Ukrainian Farmhouse Cheese-all cow milk, fresh cheese
Moonglo-raw goat milk tomme-style (semi firm)
Raclette style cheese-made with cow's milk-great for melting! It makes a killer gourmet grilled cheese!
Feta in whey brine: crumble on a spring greens salad!
Goat milk yogurt (pints and quarts)-all natural, no thickening agents
Farm Open Hours resume May 6th-7th
Come visit us this summer. We are open Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm. You can visit with the goats, taste our raw milk (and buy some to take home), shop our farm store for cheeses, accompaniments and unique gifts, enjoy a cheese board under our pavilion or grab a scoop of gelato.
The farm will be open for regular hours (11 am to 5 pm) AND we will offering two "Mom and Me" goat hikes (1 pm and 2 pm). Enjoy a leisurely walk with our favorite goats and their kids and experience the beauty of the farm. Order a special Mother's Day cheese board to share.
Not local? You can still support us! Order a Mother's Day Cheese Box or any of our other cheese gift boxes OR build your own gift box with a number of a la carte cheeses and accompaniments. Deadlines for ordering Mother's Day Cheese Boxes are as follows:
For shipping, we must receive orders by noon on Tuesday, May 9th
For farm pickup, we must receive orders by 9 am on Friday May 12th