We love showing off great products made by some of our favorite local producers! Vermont is famous for our beautiful fall foliage, and both apples and cheese are what fall tastes like to me—as if you could turn the whole season into a few delicious bites!
~Amelia, WFM partner & sourcing guru

Celebrate the kick-off of the fall season in Vermont at Cheese, Apples, & Cheers!, a festive tasting event at our Woodstock store this coming Saturday, Sept. 13, from noon to 4 p.m. Two local cheesemakers will be here to share their cheeses, while our team will be offering samples of other fall favorites! The event will take place in the Garden Center and is free and open to all!  

Read on to learn more about some of the local producers featured at the event!

 

Cobb Hill Cheese, Hartland, VT

 

Cobb Hill Cheese has been producing an assortment of small-batch cheeses since 2000. All their cheeses are made with raw milk from Holstein and Jersey cows and aged in their cave. Although they started with alpine-style Ascutney Mountain Cheese, they have since developed a buttery Welsh-style cheese and several delightful farmhouse Goudas.

 

Grafton Village Cheese, Grafton, VT

Grafton Village Cheese Company dates back to 1892 when local dairy farmers formed a cooperative with the goal of turning their surplus raw milk into cheese. To this day, they still take care to handcraft their award-winning cheeses the traditional way—using milk from small, local family farms. You can’t go wrong with any of their aged cheddars, cave-aged cheeses, or flavored options like Maple Smoked Cheddar.

Plymouth Artisan Cheese, Plymouth, VT

It all started in 1890 when Col. John Coolidge, the father of our 30th president, built the Plymouth Cheese Factory as a way to preserve the milk produced on his dairy. Although the factory has closed its doors a few times since then, Jesse Werner revived it in 2009 and uses the original recipe to produce “America’s oldest cheddar.” Their colorful waxed blocks feature flavors like Black Truffle, Garlic Peppercorn, and Sambal Cheddar!

 

Stowe Cider, Stowe, VT

Stowe Cider handcrafts their brews using apples sourced within a 150 mile radius of their cider house. They use a variety of apples including McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Cortland, and more! Stowe Cider specializes in dry ciders but is also known for creative seasonal sips such as Peach Habanero and Cider Donut. Or, if you want to feel festive without the alcohol content, try their satisfying and crisp sparkling Fresh Press!

Champlain Orchards, Shoreham, VT

Champlain Orchards is practically synonymous with Vermont apples. As one of the oldest, continually-operating orchards in the state, they ecologically cultivate fruit with special care towards pollinator protection, soil and water conservation, and energy and waste management. Champlain Orchards grows over 115 different varieties of apples on their 220-acre property. Check out a full list of the fruits they grow. They also press fresh and hard ciders!

 

Scott Farm Orchard, Dummerston, VT

Scott Farm grows 130 varieties of heirloom apples on a farm steeped in history. The farm itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been in active cultivation since 1791. The orchards were planted in 1911 and have become the pillar of Scott Farm. As an EcoCertified™ orchard, they focus on stewardship of the land and ecosystem by building healthy soil and water, protecting pollinators and wildlife, and focusing on long-term prevention and natural methods of managing diseases and pests. In addition to heirloom apples, Scott Farm Orchard has diversified into unique fruits such as medlars, paw paws, and quince!

Blake Hill Preserves, Windsor, VT

Blake Hill Preserves makes award-winning jams, marmalades, chutneys, and more in nearby Windsor, VT! Owners Vicky and Joe grew up in Europe and spent years working, traveling, and experiencing flavors from around the world before settling in Vermont in 2005. They quickly grew Blake Hill Preserves from their home kitchen in Grafton to a gorgeous facility in Windsor in 2016. Their products are versatile and delicious in savory dishes, sweet dishes, and everything in between! Check out their impressive library of recipes!

Missed the event? Don’t worry! We carry these products in our stores year round. Apples may vary by season.