Little Bloom on the Prairie
- Producer
- Prairie Fruits Farm
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Illinois
- Size
- 3 ins diameter, 1 in high
- Weight
- 6-8oz
- Website
- www.prairiefruits.com
- Milk
- Goat
- Treatment
- Pasteurised
- Classification
- Soft
- Rennet
- Animal
- Rind
- Mold Ripened
Located near Champaign, in central Illinois, Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery? is owned by Leslie Cooper and and Wes Jarrell, who bought ?the farm in 2003 with a view to create a ?diversified, small-scale fruit farm and goat dairy.
?Both Wes and Leslie had careers as professors of soil science and sustainable agriculture, giving them a solid foundation upon which to test out their ideas about sustainable farming, pasture-based goat husbandry, and farmstead cheesemaking. Currently, they milk 70 to 80 Nubian and La Mancha does seasonally and produce cheese and goat milk gelato from their milk exclusively. They employ two full-time cheese makers and a herd manager, but both Leslie and Wes are very active in the day-to-day management of the farm and creamery.
?Because the goats are pastured and have a varied diet seasonally, the ?milk is of extremely good quality and yields exceptionally high solids.
The creamery produces several different varieties of cheese, ranging from a fresh chèvre through to a raw milk blue. Most of the cheese sales take place at Farmers' Markets, in the farm store, or select retail stores and restaurants, especially in Chicago.
Little Bloom on the Prairie was one of the first cheeses to be produced at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery? and is regularly produced throughout the season. A mold ripened cheese, Little Bloom has a white, flossy rind and bone-white interior.
Tasting Notes
The texture is delicate, soft and yielding. Flavors are extremely clean and lactic, with notes of citrus, hay and mushrooms.
Pairings
The cheese pairs well with local honey, tart jams or fresh peaches. It also goes well with tart dry white wines or sour beers. ?
