Another award for expanding Teesdale cheese firm

A FARMHOUSE cheese firm has added another accolade to its trophy cabinet as it undergoes expansion.

Rokeby-based Teesdale Cheesemakers was named a finalist at the North East Rural Awards last week.

The glittering ceremony at Linden Hall saw it named among one of the best rural start-ups in the region.

Owners Jonathan and Allison Raper have introduced a new brie to their operations in the past month to join their award winning Teesdale Red, White and Blue cheeses.

Mrs Raper said: “We were really excited – it’s nice to be finalists on a regional level and moving out of our comfort zone.

“We cannot make enough of our new Brie – it’s been really well received.”

Another accolade has come in the shape of the Great British Cheese Awards where the firm has been shortlisted from more than 500 nominations to the public voting stage. Mrs Raper added: “It’s a David and Goliath thing as we’re incredibly small compared to some who are on the list – so it’s a wonderful achievement to get this far.

“And it’s something I really hope the people of Teesdale will get behind.”

With operations expanding at the farmhouse in Rokeby Park, Mrs Raper said the firm was now desperate for new premises.

The couple have launched a new online shop to cater for consumers further afield and the pair are also looking at trialing a sheep cheese using dale livestock.

Mrs Raper added: “The idea for sheep cheese came from Middleton-in-Teesdale WI.

“There are a lot of sheep in Teesdale but not many people milking them. I think it would go down a storm with locals and tourists.”

On the back of a gold award for the firm’s new goats cheese, the Rapers have entered the Hilton White and their Teesdale Brie in the Great Yorkshire Show this week. Meanwhile, the company has let loose its new custom decorated “Moo-van” on the dale’s streets.

“We have eyelashes on the van,” added Mrs Raper.

“Jonathan has been more than happy to drive it around – he’s man enough to drive a van around with lashes.

“It has had a lot of attention and we’ve organised an online competition for people to take photos of it and share them on social media.”

The firm hopes to retain silverware at the Great Taste Awards later this month.