Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese wins Supplier award from Whole Foods Market

Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese has been singled out for yet another prestigious award - an inaugural Supplier Award from Whole Foods Market®.

For the first time, Whole Foods Market has recognized natural and organic vendors who best embody the grocer's mission and core values.

Winners were announced at the May 22 awards dinner held at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel in Austin, TX.

"We really appreciate the hard work and partnership through the years. We really worked hard together. The commitment and initiative are amazing," says Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market global cheese buyer, national procurement & distribution.

Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese received the Supplier Award for the Cheese category, for having the strongest alignment with the mission of Whole Foods Market.

In particular, Crave Brothers is being spotlighted for its green practices, including water conservation and achieving negative carbon status.

Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics are a family of award-winning artisan cheeses, produced by using 100 percent green power and practicing water conservation and recycling.

The cheeses are made at their state-of-the-art farmstead cheese factory using milk from the Crave Brothers Dairy Farm.

Through the use of bio-digesters, Crave Brothers power their farm, factory and over 300 surrounding homes.

Edmund LaMacchia, Whole Foods Market global vice president of procurement, perishables, says, "We launched these awards to honor partners who not only exemplify our core values, but who also demonstrate true commitment to growing with Whole Foods Market. We're always challenging our suppliers to deliver superior quality products. Their eagerness to innovate makes these suppliers true partners in defining Whole Foods Market's mission. We're proud to celebrate their accomplishments."

For more information about Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese and its cheeses produced with renewable energy, visit the website at www.cravecheese.com. The Crave family farms 2000 acres of rich land in south-central Wisconsin, growing soybeans, corn and alfalfa to use as nutritious feed for their Holsteins.

From the manure digester to water recovery, sustainability is top-of-mind on the farm.

Every pound of cheese made by George Crave, a licensed cheese maker, is made with milk from the family's herd.

Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese produces Mascarpone, Fresh Mozzarella, Les Frères® and Petit Frère® French-style cheeses, Farmer's Rope® Part-Skim Mozzarella String Cheese and Oaxaca.