News: Thorp - Marieke Gouda (Wins Bronze - 2017)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Penterman

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/29/2017

Thorp - Marieke Gouda (Wins Bronze - 2017)

Once again, Marieke Gouda cheese produced in Thorp received national recognition at the annual U. S. Cheese Competition.

Marieke Gouda is the signature product made at Holland Family Cheese, using an authentic Old World Gouda recipe. The equipment, cultures, herbs, and spices are all imported from Holland.

Each wheel of chees is hand-crafted and made with raw mile from Penterman Farm cows in Thorp.

“We do not pasteurize our milk before we make it into cheese,” owner Marieke Penterman explained. “Our cheese is made with raw milk. It is pumped directly from the cow into our cheese vat, fresh and warm.”

Penterman said for every 10 pounds of milk you can make 1 pound of cheese.

At this year’s competition, their Marieke Gouda Belegen captured the bronze medal, placing just behind Sartori’s Reserve Black Pepper BellaVitano out of Antigo, and Argopur’s Aged Cheddar out of Weyauwega.

Holland’s Family Cheese has won awards for all its Gouda varieties since the team began making cheese in 2006. Collectively, the team has won more than 100 national and international awards.

In 2013, the Marieke Gouda (6-9 months) won the top award at the U. S. Cheese Competition.