Väddö Gårdsmejeri We take you on a tour to a Swedish farm!
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Interview & Photography By Amina Touray
fter a year of drastic changes all around the world, such as lockdowns, restrictions, and uncertainties, a lot of us got the opportunity to pause, reflect and reevaluate our lives. It was a time when people moved, bought a house, changed careers, built a family, and started working virtually. For me, it sparked a deeper interest in agriculture, which is why a few months ago I went back to my Swedish roots and visited a dairy farm located in Väddö; an island in Stockholm County, and to the municipality Norrtälje. We’re driving down an idyllic road, surrounded by white snow and beautiful tall trees. The anticipation is big, as we’re heading towards Väddö Gårdsmejeri; A family-owned dairy farm run by farmers Hasse, Yvonne, and their adult children. When we arrive, we are greeted by Johan, who gives us a “behind the scene” tour of where they’re making their renowned award-winning cheeses and other dairy products! We enter the cafeteria, which has a comforting atmosphere, kind of like a grandmother’s living room. That’s also where Hasse and Yvonne are greeting us with coffee and a Swedish-style cinnamon strip. We sat down by the table to chat, and to learn more about how everything goes down at the dairy farm. As we sit down, Hasse shows me the back of the chairs that we’re sitting on, which has embroidered fabrics with statements like “the king sat here”, and “the queen sat here”. The farm has a fascinating history with royal visitors that I also learn more about. Hasse - “It was 2013, and they called from the county administrative board because our king was going to visit all of Stockholm’s counties for a special event. I thought they were joking at first”, he laughs. - ”The ones that were responsible for this event had arranged so that the king and queen began their visit at our farm. So we sat down right here, eating cheesecake”. While Hasse was talking about the history of the farm to the royal committee while the king and queen were visiting, journalists were taking notes, and hundreds of people were gathered outside. On the walls inside the cafeteria, you can see pictures of the royal visit back in 2013, along with
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MAY 2021
