Imagine being a farmer or cheesemaker and showing up in the middle of New York City…by the time you’ve completed the herculean task of figuring out how to leave the farm (cows have to be milked, cheese must be made), you then assess how reliable your vehicle is for the trip. You try to think through parking but give up because it's too overwhelming and it might derail the whole thing. You then drive 7 hours, arrive stiff (cheesemakers and farmers aren’t used to sitting still) and frazzled from the drive and try to find where you are supposed to do your “demo”. You lug cheese, maybe some signage, maybe a tablecloth, and make your way inside.

This is where the magic of Anne begins.

Like walking in from a storm to an inviting warm room, she greets you off the streets of New York with the calmest most welcoming smile. Her pure excitement that you, a farmstead cheesemaker, are in her shop is both contagious and a relief! Her professionalism, expertise, and deep love for American artisan cheese is infused in every corner of her tiny shop. THIS is why you are here! You have come to meet the customers of Anne Saxelby who has worked tirelessly to introduce and educate people on the importance of American Farmstead Cheese. And in an industry that knocks you off your feet regularly - whether due to extreme weather, the death of a cow, a lost batch of cheese, the stress of very slim margins - Anne made you feel that it was ALL important and ALL possible!

When Anne passed in 2021 from a heart condition the loss was deeply felt not just among her family and friends, but across everyone in the cheese industry that she had touched and inspired. Anne’s support, encouragement, and her forward vision for the American artisan cheese industry is, in part, why we are still here. Her advocacy for small farmstead cheese makers like ourselves is why our cheeses are found in shops and restaurants throughout NYC and the NorthEast.

Since her death, her impact continues. The Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund (ASLF) was created in her spirit, and provides “month long paid apprenticeships for young adults to live on sustainable farms - to work, learn, and be inspired to create change in their communities”. Each year we host an apprentice who leaves with a greater understanding of farmstead cheesemaking and our food systems. It is an experience that shapes their futures, re-inspires us to connect with each amazing apprentice, and continues Anne’s legacy of nourishing resilient food systems for our communities.

This holiday season we are donating 10% of our Anne Saxelby Farmstead Cheese box to the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund. Each box includes a ~½ lb of our certified organic farmstead cheeses: Mt Alice, Oma, Savage, and Mad River Blue. This special benefit box will be available through the end of 2025.

Reflections on Anne Saxelby