Shepherd's Hope is a mild, fresh cheese based on a traditional queso fresco recipe. Made from pasteurized sheep's milk, it has a soft yet slightly firm texture with light, milky flavours accompanied by a gentle citrus note at the finish. It has a shelf life of only eight to ten weeks after production. Shepherd’s Way Farm is a true family business and farmstead operation. Sheepherder Steven Read and his wife Jodi share the role as both head cheesemakers and farmers. The Read's not only raise hundreds of sheep that live, sleep and roam freely, but they also handcraft award-winning cheeses at Shepherd's Way Farm in Nerstrand, Minnesota, about an hour south of Minneapolis.
Jodi Ohlsen Read has been crafting award-winning artisan sheep's milk cheeses in small batches by hand at the farm since 1998. Shepherd's Hope is a fresh, farmstead cheese and has a shelf-life approximately eight to ten weeks after production. There is a strong chance this 2012 ACS award winner and chef favorite may not survive very long past the first taste. Shepherd’s Hope pairs well with a crisp Chardonnay and adds unique flavor to a fresh tomato panzanella salad.