We're Joining the Cause for a More Sustainable, Ethical Food System

As a small, New York State business, Cheese Grotto has always maintained a core mission of supporting local and regional agricultural economies.  But we see now more than ever our dairy & cheese industry needs our help.  These dairy businesses who are at risk practice environmental stewardship, humane animal treatment, and the quality food production we so desperately need.

Our current food system is facing numerous critical challenges during the current pandemic, but here's the two we're focusing on currently:

1) The specialty dairy industry has lost on average 75% of its revenue, and American dairy farmers continue to dump milk
2) Millions of people in this country have lost their jobs and can't afford nutritious, quality food

So how do we address these critical issues? This month, we're partnering up with Lively Run Dairy's fundraising initiative.  Currently, Lively Run Dairy is purchasing milk from NY dairy farmers to keep them afloat, making quality, natural cheese with the milk, and then donating that cheese to food banks.  

Pete Messmer, Head Cheesemaker and co-owner of Lively Run Dairy said, “When we started seeing photos sent from our dairy friends and articles being published about farmers having to dump milk, we connected the dots and realized that we could help turn the situation around. I hope that our approach is picked up by other cheesemakers, as well - we’d love to see a movement of dairy being salvaged, and hunger being curtailed around the country.”

You can help us by continuing to order tasty, American cheese & cheeswares through our website or you can donate directly to their fundraiser here.