Made in The Hudson Valley: 5 Spoke Creamery combines handcrafted cheese with a focus on sustainability
The creamery specializes in raw milk cheese, which Gustoff says provides distinctive flavors and naturally occurring probiotics.
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A passion for cycling and cheese has grown into a business producing hundreds of pounds of handcrafted cheese.
Alan Gustoff and his wife started 5 Spoke Creamery in Goshen more than 20 years ago, with its name inspired by his bicycle rides and the idea of slowing down to appreciate what's around you.
"I've always loved cheese, so my wife and I started this company over 20 years ago and started producing raw milk cheese," Gustoff said.
The creamery specializes in raw milk cheese, which Gustoff says provides distinctive flavors and naturally occurring probiotics.
The cheesemaking process involves eight steps, beginning with receiving and heating the milk before adding cultures to create curds. The cheese is then drained, placed into molds, pressed overnight and aged.
"Most cheeses in the store aren't handmade. These are all handmade," Gustoff said.
When production is cranked up, the creamery can make about 600 pounds of cheese in a day.
Its products are purchased by restaurants and hotels and have also been served at major sporting events, including the U.S. Open.
Gustoff says the goal is to maintain high standards in cheesemaking while keeping sustainability at the heart of the process.
