Edam is a Dutch-style cheese similar to Gouda. Our East of Edam is a local variant, sharing its birthplace in Monterey County with John Steinbeck (author of East of Eden). It is made with fresh raw milk and naturally aged. This is a very versatile cheese, with a clean taste and semi-firm to creamy texture.

Schoch Family Farmstead, founded 1944 by Swiss immigrant brothers Adolph and Ernest Schoch — one of the last family-run dairies in the county, milking under 80 Holsteins. Second-generation dairyman John Schoch runs the herd; his son Beau is the cheesemaker, self-taught starting with stovetop batches after a 2006 Cal Poly course. All cheeses use raw Grade A milk from pasture-raised cows, naturally rinded and cave-aged with vegetarian rennet. It's a real family operation — Mary handles the business side, Ty does affinage and farmers market sales (Monterey Fridays, Aptos Saturdays), Seth helps with the herd and cheesemaking.

Aged 3 months

FLAVOR PROFILE: Mild, buttery, and slightly nutty

USE IT: This cheese begs to be on your cheese board, but you could also use it in a pasta dish.

Ingredient info

Pasteurized milk, salt, cheese culture, enzymes