Get an inside-out grilled cheese at the Indiana State Fair

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Grilled Cheese You Say? Yes, Please!

Perfectly browned crispy cheddar cheese on the outside of two pieces of buttered garlic toast filled with hot gooey gouda cheese. YUM! I was finally getting to try the winning grilled cheese sandwich at the Indiana State Fair dubbed the “inside out grilled cheese” and it was worth the wait. Better yet, the cheese comes straight from Heritage Ridge Creamery.

For the last three years, the American Dairy Association of Indiana has hosted the Ultimate Grilled Cheese Contest during the State Fair. The winning entry joins the other grilled cheese options at the Main Street Dairy Bar the following year. Other menu options offered at the Main Street Dairy Bar are milk shakes, yogurt, ice cream, mozzarella sticks, white and chocolate milk, pretzel bites, applesauce and cottage cheese. It’s not hard to get your “3-A-Day” of dairy at the Indiana State Fair!

Each day at the Dairy Bar provides a chance for fair goers to get a meal at a great price. For only $6, they receive a grilled cheese sandwich and a milkshake. The Dairy Bar even offers 50 cent cups of milk with only 25 cent refills and sippy cups or bottles are filled for free.

“I appreciate a healthy option for meals while at the fair. We always look forward to visiting the Dairy Bar for sandwiches and milkshakes every year,” said fairgoer Jeanie.

The best part of the Main Street Dairy Bar is they use Indiana’s own Heritage Ridge Creamery cheese to make the grilled cheese sandwiches. After the Indiana State Fair, come visit Heritage Ridge Creamery in Middlebury to purchase cheese to make your favorite grilled cheese or even create a fun, new combination to enter in the 2019 Ultimate Grilled Cheese Contest using lots of cheese and butter.

–Krista Schrock

Meet our Farmers: JC Jerseys

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JC Jerseys  |  Goshen, Indiana

Starting his own dairy farm on October 25, 2014, Jesse fulfilled his dream of milking cows of his own. He gained experience from working on two local dairy farms and jumped at the chance to purchase a herd of 19 cows and rent a facility when it was offered. Fast forward to the present, Jesse and Chelsea have expanded the milking herd to 50 cows and have added a daughter to their dream.

With their milk travelling only 22 miles to Heritage Ridge Creamery, the young couple milk twice a day in a stanchion barn and have 15 acres of hay and pasture for the cows with the help of family when needed. “We are a first-generation farm starting from scratch and learning a lot as we go. We strive to take care of our cows just like they take care of us. Each cow has a name and a job to do. It is such a blessing to see all that we have accomplished so far and can’t wait to see what is in our farm’s future,” said Chelsea.

“In my opinion, the best way to describe the life of a dairy farmer is a person with never ending tasks,” shared Jesse. “Even with lots to do, we love our cows and taking care of them best we know how.”

–Krista Schrock

Toasting World Milk Day with our farmers

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While cheese may be our favorite dairy product, on June 1 at Heritage Ridge Creamery we are drinking milk in celebration of World Milk Day. Today is a great time to raise a glass to the farmers who work hard 365 days a year to provide fresh, high quality milk! Heritage Ridge Creamery is proud to be owned by dairy farmers who are so passionate about their farms and supplying us with healthy and delicious milk.

Let’s celebrate! Pour yourself a glass of milk and toast it with us!

Learn more about our farmers » 

 

Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day with this three-cheese classic!

Recipe

Today is National Grilled Cheese Day — a day that surely can’t be missed at the Heritage Ridge Creamery. Whether you’re making a classic cheese & bread combo or throwing in something extra special like apples or rosemary sprigs, there’s nothing like enjoying a warm grilled cheese sandwich paired with tomato soup or an ice cold glass of milk.

The varieties of grilled cheeses are endless, but here’s a classic three cheese option made from some of the favorite Heritage Ridge Creamery cheeses.

INGREDIENTS

  • Heritage Ridge roll butter, softened
  • Sourdough bread
  • Heritage Ridge Amish Creamery cheese, sliced
  • Heritage Ridge cheddar cheese, sliced
  • Heritage Ridge Amish colby-jack cheese, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

Place a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Butter two slices of the bread and assemble cheese inside the sandwich, butter side out. Place the sandwich on the skillet and grilled 3-4 minutes until golden. Flip the sandwich with a spatula and grill the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, slice in half.

Pepper-jack tops Championship Cheese Contest

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Heritage Ridge Grand Champions

Pepper-jack cheese produced under the Heritage Ridge Creamery brand at Michigan Milk Producers Association’s Middlebury, Indiana cheese plant was recently named Grand Champion Cheese. The award was presented by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) last week at the federation’s annual meeting in California.

The annual contest includes cheese made by dairy cooperatives belonging to NMPF. A record 194 entries totaling 3,070 pounds of cheese products were submitted in the 2017 contest. Heritage Ridge pepper-jack placed first in the hot or spicy cheese category and then went on to win the overall best cheese prize. This is the first year MMPA has entered a product in the cheese contest.

“We are honored our product was recognized nationally, a testament to high quality milk from our farms and the craftsmanship of our cheesemakers,” said Jim Feeney, senior director of sales for the MMPA. “We strive to exceed our customers’ expectations everyday with the quality products in our portfolio.”

The Heritage Ridge Creamery brand markets cheese produced at the Middlebury, Indiana plant and sold in the on-site retail store. The cheese plant produces Colby cheese, a softer, milder flavored cheddar cheese, in addition to cheddar, pepper-jack, Amish Creamery cheese and other flavors.

Heritage Ridge Creamery is a brand of Middlebury Cheese Company, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMPA. The farmer-owned cooperative acquired the facility in 2016 and is currently reviewing options to increase capacity and expand product offerings.

1,250 cups of ice cream served at Customer Appreciation Day

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Customer Appreciation Day at Heritage Ridge Creamery

Over 2,000 customers visited the Heritage Ridge Creamery store during the community event, enjoying free ice cream made with a steam powered engine, activities for children and store specials. In total, 1,250 cups of ice cream were served throughout the day. One lucky attendee won free cheese for a year in the annual raffle.