Raw cheddar? (brand questions)

[lightheartedmom]

For reasons not worth getting into here, I am looking for a new brand of raw milk cheese for my family. We dont eat any other form of dairy products, but a few years ago, added raw cheese from organic valley (8 month raw cheddar) to our diet. We are not eating that brand any more and I'm having a hard time finding a replacement. Here's what I'm looking for - something aged more than 1 yr (so cheddar most likely), made with raw milk and preferabl organic. I'm mostly concerned about good sources for the milk (eg - vegetarian fed, etc).

I have only found two alternatives in my local stores - black diamon cheddar which is outrageously pricey (on the low end I saw $8.99 for an 8oz block, at the yuppie grocer it's $13.99 for the same 8oz block!) and I cannot really find any decent info online about the produc other than the fact that is made with non-pasteurized milk.
The other option I've found is Tillamook vintage cheddar (2 yr age) and special reserve (15mo age). They use raw milk the is then heat shocked during the process...I grew up on Tillamook sharp cheddar, but I'm not totally sure now about the safety of their milk sources. Do people here trust that brand?

Are there other brands of cheese out there that you trust and enjoy? (again, ones that are aged longer than 1yr)

I'm anxious to start eating cheese again, both because it's yummy and we all love it, but also because it's been really beneficial for my kids' teeth, especially dd1 who had some really bad dental issues (introducing raw cheese helped a lot to strengthen and remineralize her teeth). I'm also pregnant and like the extra calcium.

I would be so grateful for any input here! Thanks!

[iowaorganic]

I am curious as to why you are avoiding Organic Valley? I supply them with grain/hay. So I am very curious?

ETA- not sure if Pastureland has raw cheese- but they have the worlds most amazing butter.....

[serenbat]

you are going to find that most hard and aged cheese are raw milk (very little else they can do to make them)

- I am unable in my area (PA) to get really aged cheese unless I get from Canada (via friends visiting) - most commercial (short of ordering on line and paying shipping on top of $$$$$$) cheese is not aged even one year- some imports but still not organic and $$$$ !

[cristeen]

Tillamook is generally trusted around here.  It's what I keep in my fridge - Costco has the best prices around here (and a 3 lb block instead of the 2 lb you find at the grocery store). 

Other than Tillamook, I tend to buy NZ cheddar, because their cows are fed what cows should be fed.  I'm not crazy about the fact that it came halfway across the globe, but it's the only other one I can find info on (and afford). 

[lightheartedmom]

Thanks ladies. I've been looking online as well and aside from the pricey issue (hot cow! Some of those cheeses are expensive!), it seems like what I'm looking for just might not exist (organic, raw, old-aged cheddar...I can find one or the other or two if I'm lucky, but never all three).
Oh well...maybe we'll start with Tillamook and keep looking online. I do love that you can buy Tillamook in mass quantiiws from Costco.

Also, Cristeen, hi fellow Ddc buddy.

[1love4ever]

I avoid organic valley "raw" milk cheese because its only labeled raw because they heat the milk to 157 degrees instead of 160 degrees which is pasturization temp.  very sneaky.  anyway we get Lifeline cheese and love it https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/6728/   its a good company.  and, to tell if a cheese is made from raw or pasturized milk, read the ingredient label- it will say pasturized(which is not raw), and thats what the vast majority of cheeses are made from.

[serenbat]

I avoid organic valley "raw" milk cheese because its only labeled raw because they heat the milk to 157 degrees instead of 160 degrees which is pasturization temp.  very sneaky.

I'm still far more concerned about the pesticide use in non-organic and take "organic valley RAW" over non-organic any day.

[1love4ever]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

I'm still far more concerned about the pesticide use in non-organic and take "organic valley RAW" over non-organic any day.

uh, yeah, of course that was not my point at all.  I meant as far as raw milk cheeses go, they are my last choice.  we dont eat anything thats not organic in this house for that reason.  The cheese i posted is organic and not heated above 100 degrees.

[serenbat]

sadly the problem with aszure standard's is that they don't ship/drop every place (none near me!) -unsure where the OP is maybe they can

[lightheartedmom]

At the moment we do not eat exclusively organic, but when it comes to eggs, meat and dairy products, I try to buy only organic, or at least from sources where I can verify the diet of the animals. My main concern is cows being fed diets of gmo corn and soy and parts of other dead animals. So that's where I'm coming from.
I'm looking into the lifeline brands you recommended, 1love. The raw doesn't meet the aging I was hoping for (60 days is way too short for my taste! ) but it looks like they have an organic 1yr age cheddar (pasteurized, sadly).
Still, thats the first site I've seen with a good selection of organic cheeses. Clearly I wasn't looking very hard before.

[cristeen]

You can always age the cheese yourself.  Just leave it unopened, stick it in the back of the fridge and ignore it.  Assuming you have the fridge space, obviously. 

[1love4ever]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

sadly the problem with aszure standard's is that they don't ship/drop every place (none near me!) -unsure where the OP is maybe they can

thats true, my local health food store sells it too, maybe it has something to do with me living in MT, which is where Lifeline farm is located, although it is 8hrs away.   Do you know of any similar sites?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by lightheartedmom 

At the moment we do not eat exclusively organic, but when it comes to eggs, meat and dairy products, I try to buy only organic, or at least from sources where I can verify the diet of the animals. My main concern is cows being fed diets of gmo corn and soy and parts of other dead animals. So that's where I'm coming from.
I'm looking into the lifeline brands you recommended, 1love. The raw doesn't meet the aging I was hoping for (60 days is way too short for my taste! ) but it looks like they have an organic 1yr age cheddar (pasteurized, sadly).
Still, thats the first site I've seen with a good selection of organic cheeses. Clearly I wasn't looking very hard before.

Just email azure standard to see if they deliver to your area.  I like them a lot!  and yes  you could age it yoursself.  It says aged a minimum of 60 days, maybe its aged longer?  its honestly the best cheddar i've ever had, normally i dislike cheddar cheese.  you can also request products from azure standard and they do try  to get them!  takes a few months though.   they also have other flavors and brands of raw milk cheese.

[1love4ever]

Dont know if this helps anyone but I just got a postcard from Azure Standard today that said "New route additions for 2012 include areas of: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico and Tennessee"