Fairwinds Farm produce the delicious chèvre cheese that adds a tangy, creamy pop to dishes like our summertime watermelon salad, as well as the creamy yoghurt that accompanies our housemade granola. A family-owned business based right here in Alberta, they’re bringing fresh goat milk, yoghurt and cheese to local restaurants and shoppers.
The route to great products starts with the land. The Hermus family grow crops to feed their goats using the herd’s composted manure as fertilizer. They also rotate the feed crops regularly, keeping the soil healthy and brimming with nutrients. The goats have year-round access to pasture and their nutritious diet helps keep them healthy without the need for pesticides or antibiotics. Everything a goat eats will influence the quality of its milk, so it’s important that the herd are well looked after! The goats are milked twice a day and receive a whole grain treat when they enter the milking parlour.
Large commercial operations use artificial hormones and lighting to induce their goats to breed outside of the regular season, resulting in higher milk production year-round. At Fairwinds Farm, the goats are allowed to follow their natural breeding cycle. They produce less milk in the winter, so at this time of year it all goes into fresh products; when there’s a surplus in the summer season, it is used to make aged cheeses.
All this care and effort adds up to a product that’s kinder to the animals and the natural environment, as well as incredibly delicious!
We’re proud to showcase regional products on our menu. If you’re interested in learning more about Alberta’s local food landscape, you might like to check out Alberta on a Plate.
