Most lactose intolerants who can't have cow's milk will be able to digest goat's milk and goat's milk products.

The fat particles in goat's milk are 1/3 the size of the fat particles in cow's milk, and in fact similar in size to those in mother's milk. Goat's milk products are said to be "naturally homogenized" and therefore easier to digest for lactose intolerants.

Goat's milk can be used like any other milk, with the same cheese-making techniques. The most common and best known is the lactic process. This method originated in Central France in the area of Poitou. This product is creamy and can be eaten fresh or soft ripened. Montchevré offers a broad line of natural and flavored fresh chevre as well as soft, ripened lactic chevre.

Goat cheese can also be made from a quick-set, non-lactic process. This method requires aging from a few weeks to a few months depending on the product. Montchevré also makes semi-soft washed rind "Darsonval" Tomme, soft ripened Goat Brie and Camembert, Goat Milk Blue and Goat Milk Feta.

For more information, please visit our Products section.

Goats produce less milk than cows and goat herds are typically smaller than cow herds. Therefore, many producers pick up the milk at the farm every 5 to 7 days. Acidity develops in the milk and is often found in the finished product.

Montchevré collects its milk every 3 days. We are very strict on milk quality and therefore offer a very mild and consistently fresh goat cheese.

Montchevré aged goat cheeses are fairly sharp due to the controlled ripening process but not because of uncontrolled milk quality.

For more information, please visit our Company section.

Montchevré Goat Cheese can be served in a variety of ways:

• Ripened goat cheeses can be served on a traditional cheese tray garnished with greens and accompanied by crusty bread or crackers.

• Fresh goat cheeses are delicious spread on a bagel for breakfast or as a snack.

• Our fresh goat cheese flavored with Cranberry & Cinnamon or Lemon Zest will please any sweet tooth.

• Washed-rind Darsonval is a great table cheese, and can also be used for melting in place of Raclette.

• Fresh goat cheese is also a great base ingredient for cooking: crumbled on salad or pizza, melted in a sauce or grilled on a slice of bread.

Whichever way you choose to serve goat cheese, you will always taste its delicious, tangy flavor.

For more information, please visit our Recipes section.

Cheeses need to be salted before they are ripened. The salt is important for flavor. In the case of lactic cheese, it also helps the product hold its shape. Because goat milk is already richer in salt, less salt is needed in the production process to achieve the right flavor.

Traditionally, ash (a form of crushed charcoal) was added as a salt substitute. A straw was placed through the cheese to help it keep its form while it was rolled in the ash. Today a straw is occasionally used but only to preserve the traditional appearance of the product. The straw does not have any impact on the flavor or in the ripening process.

Goats were commonly found in small farms all around the Mediterranean area as well as Northern Africa. Often referred to as "the cows of the poor," goats were the only source of milk on small family farms, and cheese was created to preserve the excess spring and summer milk.

The popularity of the Mediterranean diet has contributed greatly to the ever-growing success of goat cheese in the United States.

Goat cheese has been used for more than 15 years in the kitchens of some of the most famous restaurants in the US. Americans have enthusiastically embraced the taste of goat cheese in their favorite dishes, including pizza, panini, ravioli, sauces, and hors d'oeuvres. Every day, more and more people discover the delights of goat cheese, and the demand for chevre continues to grow.

• Listen to your customers. Some customers may see a benefit to the health advantage of goat cheese, while others are more attracted to its distinctive flavor.

• If your customer is considering a specific product, offer a taste.

• If your customer is unfamiliar with the various types of goat cheese, help to introduce them to its distinctive flavor by first suggesting a fresh, mild product. The tanginess of goat milk cheese is an acquired taste; you do not want to offend your customer's palate with an extra sharp flavor. Let them develop their taste for chevre in a pleasant and gentle way.

• Offer serving suggestions, and help them to pair the product with different fruits, breads, wine or beer.

• Montchevré offers its retailers free recipe cards, each recipe using one of our goat cheese products as a key ingredient. To get a supply of cards, simply visit the recipe card area in our retailers section and fill out the easy order form.

• Montchevré has designed attractive, eye-catching price tags that you can customize and print on your own computer. To download the tags (available in two sizes), please visit the pricetag area in our retailers section and follow the simple instructions.