Eat local dairy products

Recently I stumbled up this article that skims the surface of the difference between commercial and local dairy products. There is a lot of information out there about commercial versus raw dairy products, and I'm not going to get into the nitty gritty. Local dairy products are my number one choice, and if that's not an option then my next choice is organic. Buying local not only supports the local economy, but it's also the freshest, and (I think) often the tastiest product. Cows and goats eating grass—like nature intended—results in a product with higher concentrations of beneficial vitamins and nutrients. There's nothing like a spoonful of fresh yogurt or goat cheese straight from the farm. And if you have a dairy intolerance, you might be able to tolerate goat or sheep's milk products, because they're thought to be easier to digest.

The Triangle is full of amazing local dairies, farms, and artisan cheesemakers. I decided to gather all of that information in one place for the local readers. Feel free to add more information in the comments section and I'll add to the post.

Black River Farmstead in Ivanhoe and Durham, NC
Alpine goat dairy farm with goat cheese and goat's milk soaps for purchase.
It appears you can purchase online. I've also noticed you can purchase their cheese via Papa Spud's.

Celebrity Dairy in Siler City, NC

Goat dairy farm with plain and flavored goat cheese and chevre for purchase.

Available at the Carrboro Farmers Market, Midtown Farmers Market, Durham Farmers Market, Pittsboro Farmers Market, Whole Foods, and Weaver Street Markets.

Chapel Hill Creamery in Chapel Hill, NC

Small Jersey cow dairy farm and farmstead cheesemaking facility. Delicious cheeses for sale, and I've seen them sell yogurt at the farmers markets (seriously the best yogurt ever).

Available at Carrboro Farmers Markets and Whole Foods.

Goat Lady Dairy in Climax, NC
Goat dairy with aged, spreadable, marinated, ripened, and raw goat milk cheeses. Also sell tango (sounds similar to yogurt) and chocolate goat cheese truffles.
Available at the Greensboro Farmers Market club, the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market, and Whole Foods.

Hillsborough Cheese Co. in Hillsborough, NC
A small boutique creamery focusing on the art of cheese-making. A rotating mixture of fresh chèvre, mozzarella, ricotta, semi-aged, and aged cheeses for purchase.
They don't have a dairy, but purchase their goat and cow's milk from local farms. Here's a list of where to purchase.

Maple View Farms in Hillsborough, NC
Holstein cow dairy farm that sells milk, butter, and ice cream.
Here's a long list of where their products are available.

Prodigal Farms in Rougemont, NC

Goat dairy with bread (made with goat whey), goat cheese, chevre, cheescakes for sale. I love their marinated feta.

Available for pickup at the Midtown Farmers Market in Raleigh and King's Daughter Inn in Durham. Also available for purchase at the State Farmers Market.

More North Carolina cheese makers can be found here and regional vendors here. Local cheese shops like Reliable Cheese Co. in Durham and Southern Whey in Southern Pines also carry some of these products. Don't forget that you can visit these local farms, taste, and buy the products on the annual Piedmont Farm Tour on April 28-29, 2012!