One of the big winners in this week's NZ Cheese Awards was the Hōhepa Hawke's Bay cheesery.
But Hōhepa, which was established in the 1950s, is a cheese producer unlike any other. It's part of a charitable organisation that offers home-life care for people with intellectual disabilities.
David in the Hohepa cheesery Photo: supplied
Artisan cheesemakers work very closely with Hōhepa residents on many aspects of dairy farming and cheesemaking, manager Carl Storey told Jesse Mulligan.
"We have about 180 people that we support with various intellectual disabilities. They work on the farm, milking the cows, tending some of the livestock, they will help us in the cheesery - they make the cheese with us."
"There's a real sense of pride in both our staff and the people we support in the work they do. There's absolute pride when they pick up a large wheel of cheese, it's their cheese, they made it.
"They're making the cheese, they're stirring the cheese, they turn the cheese, and look after them.
"These cheeses really have been loved and looked after."
Hōhepa has a philosophy influenced by Austrian scientist and thinker Rudolph Steiner - "Our motto is 'every life fully lived", Storey says.
Two of the awards Hōhepa won for best European style cheese were for their Hōhepa Vintage and Hōhepa Danbo - a rich, creamy cheese that New Zealand cheese master Juliet Harbutt has declared one of her favourite cheese in the world.
"That's a high honour for Hōhepa and our people to have."
