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To you all…
As being a relative newcomer to the cheese business (just over 6 years) I have been given an extraordinary opportunity, starting August 1st, thanks to Kelli and Anthony Estrella of Estrella Family Creamery. Kelli Estrella, as most of you know, is a remarkable cheese maker from
I met Kelli & Anthony when I was the cheese buyer for Provvista Specialty Foods. I thought her cheeses were as authentically great as anything I had ever tasted. After chasing her around for six months or so she finally agreed to sell us some of her cheeses and our relationship began.
Meeting her and Anthony, visiting the farm, and trying to imagine the hard work that goes into every pound of cheese she produces was inspiring. They start everyday day at 4:30 a.m. and do not finish until the work is done; whenever that may be. They eat what the farm provides them and, above all, she makes spectacular cheese. My position now, with World Import Distributors, gives me an opportunity to promote artisan cheese makers nationally, as World Import has done for years. Estrella Family Creamery, in my opinion, is one of the best.
If it takes a village to raise a child then it certainly “takes a thirteen year old to make a website”. My youngest son Cameron has set up a site (http://www.freewebs.com/farm-trip/) that will allow us to write stories and download photos that will hopefully give you all a peek into the life of (us being amateur) farmstead cheese makers. Along with the daily milking, barn cleaning, and animal feeding and herding, we will get the chance to, hopefully, make cheese everyday. It won’t be glamorous but should be a lot of fun. I hope you can check in from time to time.
Randy Johnson
World Import Distributors, Inc.
503-317-5760
rwjkrj@comcast.net