Original Owners (Mom and Dad)
Joe and Mary Eichten


Joe Eichten 1928 - 2006
He is severely missed

Second Generation with Mom
Ed Eichten and Eileen Eichten Carlson

History

1976—Joe and Mary Eichten,
after raising 10 children on their Midwest dairy farm, becase a University of Minnesota pilot   program and turned their dairy farm into a value added farmstead cheese plant.

1977-The marketing plan for this family owned business at this time simply was retail sales from the farm.  Eichten’s grew  quickly and became known as a “Natural Foods Company”.  This brought them into the retail and wholesale division.

1978-Eichten’s 1st award winning recognition for their Gouda  through local and regional competitions.

1979—Mary, being head cheesemaker, foresaw the coming trends and knew Eichten’s needed more than one cheese to offer to the consumer.  Therefore, seasoned goudas and gourmet gouda cheese spreads were developed.

1980—Mary’s Tilsit was developed.  It took 2 years of fine  turning her recipe to become what she felt was truly American pre-ripened cheese.  It’s flavor can be enjoyed mild or aged.  It has become a Minnesota signature cheese.

1987—American Bison Arrive!  As Eichten’s contined to grow with new cheeses and flavors.  The need for an all-natural healthy meat to compliment the natural cheeses became evident.  This came about through customer driven demands.  The 1st of many Bison came on the scene and adapted well to Eichten’s natural prairie grass feed program.

1990—Bought many new changes including expansion of new aging rooms and a packaging facility.

1999– Award Winning continues with the highest 1st place score ever given in regional cheese competitions.

2005 The bison (a natural low fat meat) has become a high     demand product with consumers.  Eichten’s received three top awards with their Artisan Goudas.

2007 –New products arrive!  Try the new Olive Tapenade Gouda and Garlic Blue Gouda Spread.

2008—Informed by the U of M that Eichten’s was the 1st farm in the nation to produce European Style cheeses on the local farm.

2010-Started producing goats milk gouda as goats milk cheese are becoming more in demand.

2011-Started blending our Gouda Spreads on the farm and the Cranberry Bagel Spread was born.