De Mekkerstee is a family business that started out in 2001, in Ouddorp in the Dutch province of South Holland. Back then, the farm consisted of just a small stable, a simple cheese factory and 75 goats. Over time, the dairy have built a larger stable and professional cheese factory and now look after 650 goats on the farm.
One of the key values of the company is to share their cheese knowledge and show off the farm. They are open all day to the public, for free, and encourage everyone to visit the goats and learn about the cheese making process. The other top priority is to have happy goats; the animals are pampered and even have a ‘wellness area’, special nursery, cuddle corner for baby goats, and are cared for lovingly and professionally. They consume a 100% organic diet and are free to graze on vast grass, herb and clover fields for as long as the weather allows, then homegrown hay in the winter.
This magnificent Cheerful Lady is made by De Mekkerstee, using organic milk of a herd of just 80 Jersey cows on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee, in the province of South Holland. Jersey cows have extremely rich milk, high in protein, vitamins and calcium so produce exceptional, buttery and creamy cheese.
Happy Mrs Jersey, Cheerful Lady is made for and aged by Treur Kaas, a business which was launched by Evert Treur, a farmer’s son, in 1955. The company began when Evert started selling cheese sourced from local farmers, from the back of his bicycle, to the local neighbourhood and cheese shops. By the end of that same year, he was successful enough that he needed a car and small warehouse, but could only initially buy one big enough to store 100 cheeses. Demand grew and Evert was able to buy larger and larger buildings, which he converted into warehouses, that could store 16,000kg of cheese initially, then 30,000kg, 120,000kg and finally 320,000kg of cheese. In 1981, the family built their own storage and maturing unit in Woerden, large enough to store 500,000kg of cheese. In 1995, Evert turned 65 and decided to retire, passing the business onto his sons. He was awarded a medal of honour for his contribution to the industry, having worked within it for 40 years.
De Mekkerstee is an entirely organic farm and dairy, producing only organic cheese. Organic standards ban the routine use of antibiotics and wormers and instead ensure that animals have ample space to roam, which naturally reduces stress and disease and removes the need to use them in the first place. The animals are also fed a grass rich, organic diet, instead of any GM animal feed and spend as much of the year roaming and grazing as possible.
