Say Cheese Please!

The Hardesty family

Say Cheese Please!

By Linda Roberts

There are many days when Ashley Hardesty feels like she’s a one-woman show. Helping her husband, Matt, and his family manage their large dairy farm near Berryville, caring for their two young children, and launching Harvue Farms’ cheese enterprise last year keeps her on the run.

Hardesty wears a smile on her tanned face and embraces her full lifestyle with Photo Vicky Moon enthusiasm, proudly pointing out that A popular option from Harvue Farms, established in 1949 by John Hardesty, is a fifth generation family farm Harvue Cheese is the Horseradish Cheddar. The Hardesty family in northern Clarke County. For ten years running, Harvue Farms has received the

In addition to the dairy herd, the Hardestys highest quality premium recognition from the Maryland/ cultivate some 650 acres, most planted in crops to Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, the organization feed their cattle. “Family members all help out here,” that promotes high caliber milk production and the said Hardesty, adding, “everyone has their own talent farmers who make their livelihood in dairying. and we all pitch in.” About 300 Holsteins are milked twice each day, at

With milk prices often in flux and miles of regulations 1:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with a tankful of milk leaving between the farmer and the consumer, the Hardestys the farm for processing every day. When Harvue started their cheese business last year as a necessity to Farms started its cheese business in 2019, the farm ensure a livelihood for the farm’s future generations. began averaging a load of milk every other month to

“The name of the game is to have something a small cheese-making firm in Pennsylvania. for our kids to work with here,” said Hardesty. “Of course, that is if they want to farm.”

Registered Holstein cows are the feature at Harvue flavors, including plain cheddar, garlic and chive, Farms and as Hardesty said, the farm’s commitment to horseradish, tomato peppercorn and smoked. high-quality milk has also resulted in the high-quality “Our cheese is 100 percent Harvue Farms’ milk,” cheese offered at 15 outlets throughout the area.

A popular option from Harvue Cheese is the Horseradish Cheddar.

Photo Vicky Moon

For ten years running, Harvue Farms has received the highest quality premium recognition from the Maryland/ Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, the organization that promotes high caliber milk production and the farmers who make their livelihood in dairying.

About 300 Holsteins are milked twice each day, at 1:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with a tankful of milk leaving the farm for processing every day. When Harvue Farms started its cheese business in 2019, the farm began averaging a load of milk every other month to a small cheese-making firm in Pennsylvania.

Harvue Farms cheese is sold in eight-ounce blocks and five-pound loaves and comes in a variety of flavors, including plain cheddar, garlic and chive, horseradish, tomato peppercorn and smoked.

“Our cheese is 100 percent Harvue Farms’ milk,” said Hardesty. In addition to being sold at local

markets for which Hardesty fills orders and then delivers it herself, the cheese is also available by appointment at the farm.

Hardesty, who comes from a dairy farming background, joked that she knew what she was getting into when she married Matt and became part of the Hardesty family.

“The cheese is all about making something better for future generations,” she said.

With the upcoming holidays, Harvue Farms is planning to make available gift box sets of cheese for its clients as a special feature. Cheese will also be offered at the following events:

• Dec. 5 and 6 cheese will be available at Dirt Farm Brewing’s outdoor vendor event in Bluemont.

• Dec. 19 Harvue Farms will participate in Audley Farm’s (Berryville) holiday vendor fair.

Details: Harvuecheese.com