In these days leading up to the holidays, we are in full production blitz. Our farm store and farm kitchen have been converted into assembly-line production spaces akin to Santa's workshop. Our creamery "elves" are busy making cheese, organizing cheese and refashioning cheese into a variety of shapes and sizes to serve the various holiday markets that we will be attending. We are pulling out all the stops this year to offer a variety of gift boxes and grazing boxes, not to mention the mugs, totes, t-shirts, tea towels and tumblers to keep you and your friends in all things Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery. Starting this weekend, we are attending some special holiday markets, in addition to our regular attendance at the Champaign Urbana Winter Farmers' Market AND our weekend farm open hours. Check out all that is happening. 'Tis the season, and we are going for the gusto.
All the Happenings
Friday and Saturday, December 1st and 2nd Mistletoe Market inside Lincoln Square Mall.
We will be there both days. Friday evening (4-8 pm) will feature gifts and cheese board kits and grazing boxes. Saturday (8-5), we will have all of our regular farmers' market offerings as well as the gifts. We will be set up at the intersection of the south and east/west wings of the mall. We will NOT be in our usual location for the farmers' market on Saturday. If you can't find us, just ask the farmers' market staff.
We'll be bringing the following cheeses to market:
Moonglo: Our raw goat milk tomme style cheese is BACK!! Fall milk makes this batch super flavorful--nutty, fruity, supple in texture. Grab a wedge!
Fresh chevre--plain, herbs de Provence, cracked pepper 2022 American Cheese Society Gold Medal and 2023 Bronze Medal winner!
An assortment of seasonal chevre flavors, too numerous to mention
Angel Food: mixed milk mini brie or large format wheels--you choose--perfectly ripe!! 20% off gooey ones with purchase of any other cheese; we have super young ones too
Little bloom on the prairie-mixed milk camembert-sytle bloomy rind- young, but aging nicely
Ukrainian Farmhouse cheese-all cow milk fresh cheese, similar to a cross between cottage cheese and ricotta
Feta in whey brine: crumble on hearty stew or chili! Use the whey brine to marinate chicken or lamb! Put it on a pizza! 2023 ACS Bronze Medal
Goat milk yogurt (last batch of the season)-all natural, no thickening agents-use it as the base of a marinade, a salad dressing or just eat it with fresh fruit
But wait, there's MORE!
December 7th-Cheese, Wine & Beer Pairings for the Holidays STILL HAVE OPENINGS
December 9th-Goat Holiday Photo Booth, 1-4 pm, Take Two
If you missed the November 25th Holiday Photo Booth, have no fear. Our tradition of dressing up our goats in holiday attire and having folks take their family holiday pictures with our "Santa Goats" is back on Saturday, December 9th The farm is open 11-5 that day, but picture taking happens from 1-4 pm. We also have our goat milk hot chocolate, Nieces Pieces brownie-gelato sundaes, savory and sweet cheesy snacks and more! While you're here, check out all the beautiful things we have for sale in the farm store. We have some unique gifts!
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery-Fresh Picks Cheese Board Collaboration
For those of you in the Chicagoland area who have been wondering where to find PFFC cheeses, look no further. Fresh Picks, a home delivery service featuring local and organic foods, carries a lovely assortment of our cheeses. You can order a la carte OR, even better, you can order a local cheese board featuring our cheeses, local charcuterie and accompaniments. You can even order wine to go with it!!
Cheesy Holiday Gifts
Our retail holiday gift collection is NOW LIVE and ready for you to make your selections. Order from our online retail store. We ship nationwide Mondays through Wednesdays every week. You can choose from one of our gift collections or just mix and match a la carte.
Holiday Cheese Platters
If you are entertaining this holiday season, consider ordering a holiday cheese platters for pick up at the farm. We are offering two sizes-medium rectangle platter and large round. Please include a note in your order indicating the date and time you would like to pick up your order. We request 48 hours notice for these platters so we can have adequate time to make them beautiful.
Farm Open Hours
We are open Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm through the end of December. You can visit with the goats, taste our cheeses, shop our farm store for cheeses, accompaniments and unique gifts, enjoy a cheese board or grab a scoop of gelato.
Please note: on Saturdays, we offer "build your own" cheese boards and flights starting at 12:30 pm until closing. On Sundays, they are available from 11-5.
Our farm is great place to unwind, enjoy some great cheese and gelato and take in the natural surroundings that are so scarce in central Illinois. Our goat teenage girls are usually hanging around close to the barns and fences, waiting for your adoration. We offer a fantastic selection of cheese accompaniments (crackers, jams, sauces, pickles, wines, beers) as well as Joyful Wren pastured-poultry eggs, our goat milk soap (made for us exclusively by The Wright Soapery), tea towels and t-shirts. Come see the latest new offerings in the farm store. From Divina fruit spreads, to Great Lakes Potato Chips ((the cherry BBQ is the "bomb!") to Central Illinois Bakehouse crackers and a growing array of roasted and seasoned Voss orchard pecans, we have some of the best accompaniments you'll find in central Illinois. Ask for cold brew "affogato" or a root beer-gelato float!
Special shoutout to our new potter in residence Irene Woo (Pottery by Irene). She has made some special goat milk soap holders for us. Her true works of art are these leaf and flower platters, using leaves and flowers from OUR FARM! You must come check these beauties out!!
photo and post by Laura Trovillion
Goat Hikes and Pasture Walks
Looking for something fun and unique to do outside? Want to commune with nature AND take a walk with some adorable goats? If the weather is good, we will continue to offer the goat hikes into December. Saturdays at 11 am. No reservations required. Just check in with a staff member when you arrive at the farm. Cost is $18 per person and includes the hike/walk, a tour of the dairy and a scoop of gelato at the end.
HOLIDAY GIFT BOXES FOR BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS
If you own or work in a business or a non-profit organization that has the custom of giving gifts to your favorite clients/customers/donors, consider a unique and delicious cheesy gift box from Prairie Fruits Farm! We have curated four gift boxes for all budgets. Since this page/collection is password protected, please email me at prairiefruitswholesalecheese@gmail.com if you would like to check out our offerings and place an order. The deadline for placing orders for businesses is extended to December 6th.
