PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Agriculture will join representatives from Rhody Fresh Milk and Narragansett Creamery in Providence to unveil a new variety of artisan cheese – Rhody Fresh's newest product – on Tuesday, November 13. Butterkase, a hand-crafted artisan German-style soft cheese is made in Providence at Providence Specialty Products, using milk from Rhody Fresh dairy farms.
The Rhode Island Dairy Farms Cooperative, which produces Rhody Fresh Milk, was formed in 2004 by a group of five dairy farmers who believed the Rhode Island community was thirsty for locally-produced, fresh milk. Today, Rhode Fresh Milk has grown to include nine dairy farms throughout the state and is sold at retail stores, colleges, and other locations throughout the state. Rhody Fresh Milk is also now used to make the new, delicious varieties of local artisan cheese and butter.
Narragansett Creamery has been handcrafting award-winning fresh and aged cheeses in Providence since 2007, when Louella Hill, a local food advocate, joined forces with Mark Federico, already a cheese maker and owner of Providence Specialty Products, to craft a line of artisan cheeses and yogurt. In just five years their cheeses have garnered a dedicated following in Rhode Island and beyond, and are sought after by professional chefs and home cooks alike.
Participants in Tuesday's event will include DEM Director Janet Coit; Ann Gooding, communications director for the Providence Department of Planning and Development; Louis Escobar of Escobar Highland Farm in Portsmouth and winner of the 2012 Green Pastures Award, who will speak on behalf of Rhody Fresh; and Mark Federico of Providence Specialty Cheese.