Help us Grow Sheep Dairying in Ohio!
Yummy imported artisan cheeses. Can we make these in Ohio?
Take a simple survey and help us grow artisan cheese in Ohio.
The goal of the Ohio Sheep Milk and Cheese Initiative is to determine the feasibility of the production of sheep milk in Ohio and to explore processing this milk into local artisan sheep cheeses. Demand for specialty cheeses exists, but raw materials, fluid sheep milk, processing capabilities and quality sheep dairy genetics in Ohio are currently limiting factors.
Currently it is estimated there are approximately 150 sheep dairy farms in the U.S., but even considering this amount 66 million pounds of sheep’s milk cheese was imported into the U.S. with a value of $118 million. These imported products included Feta, Manchego, Romano and Roquefort cheeses.
Take the survey and help us with our research at http://ohiosheepdairy.wordpress.com/.
More interested than just taking the survey? Then join us for a Sheep Dairy Workshop sponsored by SARE, Small Farm Institute and Innovative Farmers of Ohio on Saturday, November 6, 2010 in Wooster, Ohio. (Location TBD). Details will be forthcoming at http://ohiosheepdairy.wordpress.com/.
The Ohio Sheep Milk and Cheese Initiative is a seed project that needs your participation for long-term success and to develop opportunities for Ohio farmers. Thank you for taking the survey today.
Best-
Abbe
