Vermont Farmstead Cheese Co, 2749 Church Hill Rd, Woodstock, VT 05091, US

In 2003, while visiting Manchester, Vermont, Johann Englert had a flash-back to her college years. A cluster of fresh mozzarella balls sitting on the counter of an Italian specialty shop reminded her of a groceria she and her mother had visited while traveling in Italy. These cheese artisans produced genuine, Old World mozzarella. Johann could not find that level of quality in Boston and bought 20 balls of mozzarella on the spot. She asked Mike Scheps, the owner's son and third generation cheesemaker, if he would be able to supply her with small quantities. Little did they know, a business was born. After sampling those 20 balls, 5 out of 6 gourmet shops in Boston wanted more of this genuine mozzarella. Johann and Mike were onto something. Business boomed as the operation moved from a kitchen to a small store to the purchase of a building. They developed an apprenticeship program to teach new employees the art of making perfect mozzarella. The program started with 3 local Vermonters and has grown to include 20 employees who are making small batches of cheese and wrapping them by hand every day of the week. From those first 20 mozzarella balls to the current 20, 000 produced weekly, Maplebrook Farm has established itself as a premier artisan cheese producer distributing products up and down the East Coast. We are excited to announce our Cherry Wood Smoked Mozzarella has won awards at the 2007 American Cheese Society Conference and at the Big E Eastern States Exposition.