proud to be Mary Keehn groupies
Inspired by today’s Atlantic article on the rise of women brewers, we thought we’d highlight a few notable women in cheese in honor of International Women’s Day. (And no, I don’t mean “notable” in the French fashion.)
The three people I think of first as the pioneers of American artisanal cheese are all women: Mary Keehn, Allison Hooper and Sally Jackson. On their heels, Sue Conley and Peggy Smith, better known as the Cowgirls, brought fancy cheese into homes across the nation. Then there are innovators like Laini Fondiller of Lazy Lady Farm (VT), Judy Schad of Capriole Dairy (IN) and Elizabeth MacAlister of Cato Corner Farm (CT). Even Whole Foods’ global cheese buyer, holder of the most enviable job title on earth in our book, is Cathy Strange.
Now this isn’t to disparage the male cheesemakers out there — you all know we’re equal-opportunity cheese hounds. But when the celebrity chef scene is so testosterone-saturated, we think it’s worth noting how many female cheese professionals are also worthy of rock star status.
(Of course, your authors are female, as are most –but not all– of the cheese scribes we follow.)
So raise a glass tonight, and a sliver of Womanchego, to the women blazing trails in the world of cheese. Cheers!
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