Embracing their shared commitment to Vermont’s sustainable food economy, F. H. Gillingham & Sons General Store and Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company announced today they are partnering to produce and market Gillingham Vermont Heritage Cheddar, a distinctive new brand based on 126 years of tradition in Vermont. The first result of this joint effort is an all-natural artisan cheddar cheese, which is made using 100% Vermont milk and will be marketed regionally and nationally.
Governor Peter Shumlin helped announce the new venture, stating: ‘As Governor and a small business owner, I find it extremely rewarding to see local businesses coming together to produce and market a high quality product that is so inherently ‘Vermont’in its origins, and yet will have such a broad regional and national appeal.’ The Governor is no stranger to Woodstock’s F.H. Gillingham & Sons and Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company. Last year he visited the Farmstead’s dairy operations and helped make a batch of the Company’s farmstead cheddar cheese.
Both organizations are deeply rooted in the Woodstock community, with Vermont Farmstead’s dairy farm and Gillingham’s retail operations located just a few miles apart. ‘We have had a close bond with F.H. Gillingham ever since we founded our creamery,’said Farmstead board member Vince Galluccio. ‘We are very excited to begin producing and selling the Gillingham Vermont Heritage Cheddar with a deep-rooted legacy of sustainability and quality. Gillingham’s is a true, traditional, time-tested general store, with 126 years of history in Vermont cheese and specialty food sales. Their loyalty and commitment to the state’s economy and agribusiness runs deep.’he added.
‘We have been and always will be so proud to be a home-grown Vermont-based business,’said Jireh Billings, one of the founding family’s proprietors of F.H. Gillingham. ‘While we have a long history and are one of the oldest of Vermont’s general stores, we never stop looking for new ways to bring quality Vermont products to our local customers and those located around the globe. Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company’s use of 100% Vermont milk, for example, was just one of the many reasons we decided to move ahead with this venture. Both companies share a desire to elevate the state’s sustainable food model. ‘
Another prominent lawmaker, U.S. Representative Peter Welch said, ‘It’s always exciting to see businesses work together to help attract visitors to our state and share Vermont’s heritage.’
The new artisan Gillingham Vermont Heritage Cheddar will be available for consumers in mid August in Gillingham’s Woodstock store and on their website (gillinghams.com), with availability in other retail stores anticipated in early September. A portion of the profits from sales of Vermont Heritage Cheddar will be donated to the Vermont Dairy Foundation, a charity specifically established by Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company to help struggling Vermont dairy farmers.
About F.H. Gillingham & Sons General Store
F.H. Gillingham & Sons General Store opened its doors in 1886, carrying necessities as well as treasures, and the founder’s guarantee behind every item: ‘Your money's worth or your money back." Today, 126-years later, Gillingham’s is located in a 200-year-old building designated as a National Historic Landmark at 16 Elm Street in the very heart of downtown Woodstock, Vermont. The store is still owned and operated by Frank Henry Gillingham’s descendants, Frank and Jireh Billings. www.gillinghams.com.
About Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company
Only 100 percent Vermont milk is used to create Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company’s artisanal and farmstead cheeses and specialty food products. The company was conceived and founded as a community-based effort to save a local farm in South Woodstock. For more information, visit www.vermontfarmstead.com
Source: F.H. Gillingham & Sons 7.23.2012