Vallgarns Dairy in Långtora lay down the cheese production, because the owners want to retire.
For many years, goats and cows have provided the milk that became cheese at Vallgarns Farm Dairy. But now the operation, run by Michael Sjöman and his partner Christina Fredriksson, is coming to an end.
– It feels bittersweet right now,” says owner Michael Sjöman to eposen.se.
– ”The long workdays, often 14 to 16 hours, have taken a toll on my body. It will feel good to let my body recover, he says, Also Christina Fredriksson, who has managed the Vallgarns cheesecake business on the farm, will also be stepping away.
Michael Sjöman. Michael had kept goats for many years when he initially wanted to sell milk to dairies, but no one could take his supply. So, in 2005, he took a dairy and started his own dairy instead. Goat cheese. And the famous Eldosten became a bestseller.
At one point, Michael had as many as 65 goats. For a time, he also had dairy cows, but later he bought milk from Sparrsätra Farm. Nine goats will remain on the farm as companion animals.
The work wasn’t just about tending the animals and making cheese; it also involved around 30 market days a year. – For the first 17 years, I worked 90 to 95 hours a week. Even Christina, despite having a part-time job elsewhere, helped. But the workload is still too much for just two people, he says.
Lear more about Vallgarns Dairy HERE