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cheese@naturalpastures.com

The Natural story behind our award winning specialty Cheeses

A story lies behind this line of fine, hand made, award winning, specialty cheese. It is one rooted in the wisdom of simpler times.

Our story is about green meadows, happy cows, fresh thinking and age-old cheese making traditions taking place in the lush landscape of Vancouver Island’s Comox Valley.

Natural Pastures specialty artisan cheeses are known for having a unique, delicious taste or “terroir”, developed from the fresh, pure milk which the pristine soils, waters and pastures produce here in the Comox Valley” comments Edgar Smith, “We only use fresh milk produced on our selected local dairy farms, which practice sustainable farming and animal stewardship. The designation means that the farmers must be good stewards of the land. The animals are stress free and live in healthy environments. Because the cows eat the local grass and herbs, generously watered by Pacific Ocean-soaked rain, the milk used to make the cheese has its own “terroir” or distinct flavour. The term is familiar to wine-makers, where different regions have their distinct terroirs.

Teamwork triumphing over adversity is a theme throughout our journey in producing world-class, medal-winning, delicious cheeses. Brothers Phillip, Edgar and Doug Smith, we operate our third generation family farm in the Comox Valley as well as Natural Pastures artisan cheese production in the city of Courtenay. We're a small, specialty cheese producer born out of adversity, turning to cheesemaking in 2001 to find a home for our exceptional quality milk produced in the Comox Valley.

Our selected local dairy farms are committed to environmental sustainability, and the natural wildlife habitat has been enhanced. Our enhanced stream habitats raise thousands of wild Coho Salmon each year. Our pure, fresh milk complements Natural Pastures artisanal cheese-making traditions which are managed by Doug Smith and Paul Sutter, head cheesemaker, leading our dedicated team to capture the essence of the unique flavours of the privileged environment of Comox Valley with our fine artisan handmade cheeses. Edgar notes that “Natural Pastures Cheese Company’s world-class cheeses are due in part to the traditional Swiss training and professional accreditation of our cheesemaker, originally from Switzerland, and to the consistent and hard work of all the employees of Natural Pastures at our federally inspected production facility in the city of Courtenay.”

Listen to Edgar Smith’s full interview on the Pursuit of Pleasure audiocast (MP3, 15 minutes)

To find out more about our TLC Partnership, and Beaver Meadow Farms (Circa 2001), please click on one of the links above.