The Trustees of Reservations announced today that Appleton Farms, the nation’s oldest working farm, is producing and selling their own cheeses and butter made from the milk of their registered jersey herd. The new dairy products are for sale in the dairy store, along with the farms milk, beef and eggs and other locally sourced products. The farm completed the construction and permitting process for their on-site dairy plant, located in the old bull barn behind the dairy barn, in mid-September.
Inspired by the lush pastures and historic buildings at the farm, new dairy products include: Great Pasture Pub Cheese - a simple yet delicious spreadable cheese, Briar Hill Butter – barrel churned and hand packed, so good you’ll want to spread the butter on butter, and Jimmy’s Barn Ricotta – fresh, light and creamy, not just for lasagna! Yogurt will follow in the coming weeks, along with two ripened cheeses: a triple-cream St. Andre-style cheese and an aged cheddar.
Founded in 1636, Appleton Farms was, for generations, at the forefront of the New England dairy industry, introducing dairy breeds from England to the United States, including Jersey and Guernsey. The farm was donated to the Trustees of Reservations by the Appleton family in 1998, with a primary goal of educating and engaging the public through sustainable, local agriculture. The sale of the dairy products marks an important milestone towards achieving that goal while also revitalizing the unparalleled dairy legacy at Appleton Farms.
Director David Beardsley reports, “After more than a year of dairy plant construction, planning and permitting, we are excited to have a fully functioning retail dairy operation that offers more locally produced food to the North Shore community. What lies ahead promises to be one of our best stories ever at the farm – local dairy products made at the farm, for sale at the farm, from the milk of cows raised and grazed at the farm. For years, staff and volunteers have worked hard to deliver on this promise of farmstead dairy products. We think you’ll find our cheeses and butter worth the wait. And, just in time for the holiday season!”
To visit the farm, enter the farm off of Route 1A (219 County Road) in Ipswich. For more information call 978.356.3825 (dairy store) or 978.356.5728 (office), or email appletonfarms@ttor.org. To learn more about the dairy operation visit the website at www.thetrustees.org/dairy or join us on Saturday’s at 3pm for our Meet the Cows program. (The program meets at the Visitor Center. Trustees Members: $4; Nonmembers: $5.)
FALL DAIRY STORE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday: 2pm – 7pm; Tuesday & Friday: 11am – 6pm; Saturday: 11am – 3pm