CHEESEMAKER

THE « AGROPASTORALIM » IN SAINTE FOY

What kind of cheese will you find in Sainte Foy ?

In Sainte Foy, you can find 3 typical cheeses of the ‘Haute Tarentaise’: the Beaufort, the Tomme and the Persillé.

The “Persillé” of Sainte Foy, a unique cheese

This is a type of blue cheese which has a cylindrical form. It has a very rustic grey or ochre rind.

Today, the “Persillé” is only made in two main places.

At Sainte Foy’s Commune: during summer at Mrs Yvette Empereur’s and in the Monal Village.
And in the village of “la Gurraz” (a hamlet 15 minutes away from Sainte Foy heading towards Tignes/Val d’Isère) at Mrs Contoz’s.

In the Monal, this cheese is only made with goat’s milk, but in “la Gurraz” it’s made with goat’s milk and cow’s milk.

Where can buy cheese directly during summer ?

in “le Vallon du Clou” (2,620 metres above sea level), every morning and at the end of afternoon (Beaufort, Tomme…)

in the village of “le Monal” (1,874 metres) in the summer only: sale and making of “Persillé” (goats cheese).

…and other seasons (october to april) :

Buy direct from “Gaec du Clou” in the village of “Chavarnier” above Sainte Foy Tarentaise (Tomme, Beaufort, Persillé).

Gaec du Clou, Yvette and Jérôme Empereur
La Ferme des Balmes
Le Chavarnier, 73640 Sainte Foy Tarentaise Phone: +33 (0)4 79 06 58 37

You can also find other milk producers around Sainte Foy:

-Groupement Pastoral de la Tovière

-GERACI BORREL Lucette

-SALLIN Justin

-MOUSSELARD Monique (in Sainte Foy La Thuile)

THE “AGROPASTORAL INDUSTRY” IN TARENTAISE

During your excursions and walks around Sainte Foy, find the main farms. Discover the know-how of cheese making and, by buying directly from the producer, you also take a part of the land away with you :

In Val d’Isère

-“La Ferme de l’Adroit” Phone: +33 (0)4 79 06 13 02 Visit of the farm

http://www.lafermedeladroit.com/html/fermeAdroit.php

-« La Fermette de Claudine »: +33 (0)4 79 06 13 89 or +33 (0)6 07 21 46 60 Sale of local products, in particular the products of “La Ferme de l’Adroit”

http://www.lafermettedeclaudine.com/html/fermette.php

In Tignes

-“La Ferme des 3 Capucines”: +33 (0)4 79 06 35 10

Tour of the farm and maturing cellar with produce from the farm available to buy.

From 9 December to 6/05/11: all day long from 9.30am to 12.30am and from 5pm to 7.30pm

Tour and commentary on making Beaufort – FREE

Every Thursday at 9.15 am (summer only)

http://lafermedes3capucines.over-blog.com

“La Ferme de Lognan” Mr FAVRE Pierre: +33 (0)4 79 06 42 54

From 15^th June to 15^th September, every Thursday: guided tour of making of Beaufort

Group reservations.

Sale of produce at the farm all day long from 9.30 am to 12.30 and from 5pm to 7.30pm

Produce: Beaufort d’Alpage, Tomme, Raclette, yoghurts, fromage blanc, confiture de lait

Mail order, free tasting

In Peisey

-“La Bergerie du Rey” +33 (0)6 20 97 26 24 Mr SILVIN Samuel

Lot of products, Explanations and a tour on cheese making, snacks.

http://www.peisey-vallandry.com/fiche-presentation_activite-660-FR-E-REY-ETE-PEISEY_VALLANDRY.html

-“Les Fermiers d’en Haut”: Gaec Alpin +33 (0)4 79 07 57 52

Buy directly from the farm Appointment only, all year long.

For booking contact Mr POCCARD-CHAPUIS Pierre +33 (0)6 10 22 58 39 or gaecalpin@orange.fr

http://gaec.alpin.pagesperso-orange.fr/index

-«Le Gaec du Moulin » Mr COLLIN Marc +33 (0)4 79 07 95 38 or +33 (0)6 22 97 65 48

Tour of the farm from 4pm to 7pm.

In Bourg Saint Maurice

-“Le Gaec des 5 Lacs”,

Odile and Frédéric PICHOT: +33 (0)6 11 55 54 81 or +33 (0)4 79 07 79 45

Summer: in “Fort 2000” or “Fort de la Platte”, on the walk of 5 Lakes above Bourg Saint Maurice.

Sale of produce in the Fort

Open every morning, afternoons from 4pm to 7pm and all day Sunday.

From June to November, the farmer’s family live in the Fort. They make and sell cheese which has been matured in the Fort and offer rustic lunch with their products.

Farm opens for visits all day.

Winter: as you come into Bourg Saint Maurice

All year long in local markets

In Séez

Mr ARPIN Jean-Marie : +33 (0)4 79 41 05 37

In winter : in Séez village, « Les Combes » : Goats cheese available to buy (Tarentais, Tomme made from goats milk).

In summer : in Chapieux village (towards « le Cormet de Roselend ») in his shop on your left : Sale of local produce : cheese, marmelade, charcuterie, honey…

In Aime

-“Le Groupement Pastoral de l’Alpage de Plan Pichu”

Visit from 20^th June to 25^th September (depending on the availability of farmers)

For guided tours: information at “Syndicat d’Initiative” of Granier village:

+33 (0)4 79 55 46 44

-“L’ Alpage du Cormet d’Arêche”: Mr DUCOGNON: +33 (0)4 79 55 63 80

From mid-June to mid-September: Making of Beaufort cheese

Free visit of Pasture Mountain all day long / guided tours on demand FREE

- Groupement Pastoral de Montgirod Villette Hautecour: Simon Gilles: +33 (0)4 79 55 49 14

Visit from 8am to 11am and from 3pm to 7pm: Making of Beaufort and Sérac

“Le Chalet du Cormet de Roselend”: +33 (0)6 83 09 78 7 All days long from 15^th June to 15^th September, from 10am to 6.30pm.

Visit an exhibition : “Learn the Mountain”
Free open shop and sale of local produce and souvenir shop.
www.lechaletducormet.com
Every year, one Open Day is held during autumn by the GEDA (Groupement d’Etudes et de Développement Agricole de Haute Tarentaise).
+33 (0)4 79 41 06 81

Some details about the « Coopérative Laitière » of Bourg Saint Maurice

The Cooperative brings together 62 producers of milk. It represents 6,000,000 litres of milk produced and made into dairy produce.

It is managed by the producers themselves in order to cope with daily problems and decide how to deal with them and they have 20 members of staff with a board of directors consisting of 15 people.

Its mission is to create awareness and to safeguard the heritage, mountains and tradition and the know-how of making Beaufort. In 1968, the AOC (Apellation d’Origine Contrôlée) has been awarded to this typical cheese of Tarentaise.

The Coopérative used to be situated in the centre of Bourg Saint Maurice, but with problems with regulations, it has been built again in the artisanal zone of Bourg Saint Maurice.

In 2002, the company extended its cheese making site. It added a maturing cellar for 20,000 extra rounds of cheese and a packaging workshop.

The cooperative in Bourg Saint Maurice organizes free, open visits with videos and information boards. All year long, from Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 11.30am

During the summer (from 1^st July to 31^st August) and from 20^th December to 30^th April: guided tours on Friday mornings from 9.30am to 10.30am.

Group bookings available for groups of more than 10 people.

Postal address: 494 rue des Colombières, 73700 Bourg Saint Maurice.

+33 (0)4 79 07 08 28 www.fromagebeaufort.com

The Coopérative of BSM has several sales outlets in the valley. The main one is situated in Bourg Saint Maurice in front of the Station SNCF. +33 (0)4 79 07 04 47

Open from Monday to Saturday: from 8.30 to 12 and from 2.30pm to 7.30pm.

Glossary

What is a “fruitière”?

A “fruitière” groups milk producers together. They pool their produce and a group of cheese makers “les fruitiers” make the Beaufort cheese. In a “fruitière” organise the making, maturing and the selling of the cheese.

What’s the “Transhumance”?

It corresponds to the progression of the animals from their winter cowshed to their pasture mountain where they will be sent to pasture during summer which lasts 100 days.

The rest of time is split between the valley meadow and cowshed.

What’s a “Gaec”?

It’s a group of farmers who pool their production.

What’s a “Groupement Pastoral” (G.A.E.C.) ?

It’s a group of famers who pool their animals.

Different “labels” for the promotion of cheese

AOP (Appellation d’Origine Portégée): it safeguards the origin of traditional products.

IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée): awarding safeguarding the origin of product and the quality.

Find different recipes with cheese !

http://www.epicurien.be/recettes/fromages/beaufort-france/recette-fromage-beaufort.asp

http://www.fromage-beaufort.com/fr/gastronomie-recette-mois-fromage-beaufort.aspx

http://www.quiveutdufromage.com/recettes/