I’ve put off writing this for a few weeks because I just didn’t want to think about it. One of my favorite local producers, Northern Prairie Chevre, won’t be returning next season. While it has always been a year round operation, they didn’t milk during the winter months, so their products faded from the co-op shelves and the lack of farmers’ markets during the winter here (what would they sell) meant that I was comfortable with a few months of absence. However, next year when the Des Moines Farmers’ Market reopens, they’ll be a stand short.

The three amazing women that ran this small business have decided that 10 years of hard work is enough and are moving on to new opportunities (one is the new cheese monger at Wheatsfield Coop). I wish them well, but will miss their outstanding “squeaky cheese” – goat cheese curds – next summer.