Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery

What Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery does

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is a privately held regenerative goat dairy and farmstead creamery founded in 2004 and located on 28 acres in Champaign, Illinois. The company operates as a vertically integrated farm-to-table business: a herd of approximately 70 milking does (with a 94-doe breeding program producing 180+ kids annually) supplies milk to an on-site creamery that produces award-winning artisan goat cheeses (fresh chèvre, bloomy rind, and aged wheels), goat milk gelato, and yogurt. Milk travels directly from herd to creamery, enabling seasonal, terroir-driven cheese production certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World since 2010 and backed by 20+ years of ADGA-registered LaMancha and Nubian genetics with documented milk records and Linear Appraisal scores.

The company's revenue model is highly diversified across direct-to-consumer, wholesale, hospitality, and agritourism channels. Core monetization includes cheese sales through the on-farm store, four regional farmers markets (Urbana, Bloomington, Springfield), 10+ retail partners (Martinelli's Market, Common Ground Food Coop, Harvest Market, Green Top Grocery, Fresh Thyme, etc.), regional wholesale via sister company Central Illinois Bakehouse, and national distribution through Misfit Market. Hospitality and experiential revenue is generated by Caprae (an on-farm fine-dining restaurant serving Tuesday-Saturday dinner and weekend brunch), private event venue rentals (Farm House, Dining Room, Orchard Room, Pavilion; full-facility rates up to $6,000), the Farm Stay farmhouse rental, goat hikes, farm tours, and Prairie Explorers summer camp. Recurring subscription revenue comes from a $20/month Farm Club membership and $20/week Farm Share CSA; ancillary revenue from ADGA-registered livestock sales supplements the model.

Customer segments span local food enthusiasts, celebration and event planners, restaurants and retailers, dairy goat breeders and 4-H families, families with children, and agritourists. The 2025 ownership transition to Lauren and Jeffrey Brokish, combined with a $200,000 State of Illinois Tourism Attractions Grant and matching capital, funded a new farm store and Orchard Room/Classroom that opened February 2026, expanding both retail assortment and workshop programming. The company employs 11-50 people and is part of the Salt Fork Food Works regional food network.

Name

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery

Legal name

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery

Website

https://prairiefruits.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is a regenerative goat dairy and farmstead creamery in Champaign, Illinois that produces award-winning artisan goat cheeses, gelato, and yogurt from its own pasture-raised herd, selling through an on-farm restaurant, retail store, regional wholesale, national distribution, and agritourism experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Farmstead Goat Cheese

NAICS

Goat Farming (112420), Sheep and Goat Farming (1124)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAEAFAC

Dairy Goat Farming (Milk Production)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Sheep & Goat Farming

SECONDARYAFAEAFAG

Grazing & Pasture-Based Operations (Range, Rotational Grazing)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Sheep & Goat Farming

SECONDARYAFAEAFAI

Organic/Regenerative Sheep & Goat Production

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Sheep & Goat Farming

SECONDARYAFAEAMAE

Organic Sheep & Goat Production

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Organic Animal Production

Keywords

• Artisan goat cheese
• Farmstead cheese production
• Agritourism experiences
• Farm-to-table dining
• Dairy goat breeding

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Artisan Cheese Sales: Award-winning farmstead goat cheeses sold directly at farm store, through wholesale to restaurants and retailers, at farmers markets, and via national distribution through Misfit Market. Products include fresh chèvre, bloomy rind cheeses, aged wheels, and specialty varieties like Everything Bagel Chèvre and Farmer's Cheese.
2. Restaurant Dining (Caprae): On-farm fine-dining restaurant serving farm-to-table cuisine. Tuesday Taco Nights, Wednesday-Friday dinner service, Saturday brunch and dinner, Sunday brunch. Also offers 5-course tasting menu, private dining events, and special holiday menus.
3. Farm Stay Accommodations: Farmhouse rental for overnight stays with welcome cheese plate, nature trail access, goat visiting, and cheese-making viewing window. Single-night and extended stays available, booked directly or through Airbnb.
4. Wholesale & Distribution: Cheese products sold wholesale to restaurants, retail stores, and private chefs across Illinois, Missouri, and limited Chicago metro areas through local delivery 5 days per week.
5. Private Events & Venue Rental: Private dining, corporate retreats, and event venue rental. Spaces include Farm House, Dining Room, Orchard Room/Classroom, and Pavilion. Food and beverage minimums apply, pricing from $200-$6,000 depending on space and day.
6. Farm Experiences & Classes: Goat hikes ($10/person or free for Farm Club members), farm tours ($10/person), goat yoga, goat photo booths, children's farm camp (Prairie Explorers at $250/child/week), and various adult classes including cooking, art, and homestead skills.
7. Farm Club Membership: $20/month subscription providing Traveler Mug, monthly members-only events and specials, free Saturday goat hikes, and 10% discount at farm store.
8. CSA Farm Share: $20/week subscription providing weekly fresh bread and chef's choice cheese with farm or farmers market pickup. No long-term commitment required, can pause and restart as needed.
9. Livestock Sales: Sale of ADGA registered dairy goat kids, breeding stock, milking does, and retired does. $100 deposit reserves a goat, with kids available 1-8 weeks old depending on buyer preference.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is a vertically integrated farmstead goat dairy that produces artisan aged and fresh goat cheeses, goat milk gelato, and yogurt from its own pasture-raised dairy goat herd, and sells them through an on-site Caprae farm-to-table restaurant, an on-site retail farm store, agritourism experiences (goat hikes, tours, classes, summer camp), and a wholesale distribution program serving regional restaurants and retailers.

Product overview

Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is a regenerative goat dairy and agritourism destination in Champaign, Illinois, founded in 2004. The business operates as a unified farm-to-table experience centered on its award-winning artisan goat cheeses, which are produced from milk from its own pasture-raised herd of approximately 100 goats. The core product portfolio includes: artisan goat cheeses (fresh chèvre, bloomy rind, and aged varieties) and goat milk gelato sold through the Farm Store and online; Caprae Restaurant serving farm-to-table fine dining; and diverse experiential offerings including goat hikes, farm tours, private events, and an on-site farmhouse rental. Supporting subscription offerings include the Farm Club membership and Farm Share (CSA) program. The farm recently expanded with a new Farm Store and Orchard Room/Classroom space opening February 2026, enabling expanded workshop programming. Wholesale distribution reaches regional restaurants and retailers, while goat sales offer ADGA-registered genetics from the herd.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Caprae Restaurant: Fine-dining farm-to-table restaurant on the farm serving seasonal menus crafted by Executive Chef Garron Sanchez
• Farm Club
• Farm Share (CSA)
• Goat Hikes
• Farm Stay
• Orchard Room Classroom
• Prairie Explorers

Products and services

• Artisan Goat Cheeses A range of aged and fresh goat cheeses produced on-farm from the creamery's own pasture-raised dairy goat herd, sold through the farm store, Caprae restaurant, regional wholesale accounts, and online channels.
• Goat Milk Gelato On-farm goat milk gelato produced by the creamery from the farm's own goat milk and sold via the farm store, restaurant, wholesale, and online channels.
• Goat Milk Yogurt and Other Cultured Dairy Goat milk yogurt and other cultured dairy items produced at the on-farm creamery and sold through direct and wholesale channels.
• Caprae Farm-to-Table Restaurant Full-service, chef-led farm-to-table restaurant on the Prairie Fruits campus, open to the public for dine-in service and used for private dining events.
• On-Site Farm Store On-farm retail store selling the creamery's artisan goat cheeses, gelato, yogurt, and related farmstead goods direct to visiting consumers.
• Wholesale Distribution Program B2B distribution of the creamery's artisan goat cheeses, gelato, and yogurt to restaurants, cheese shops, and specialty retailers with refrigerated local delivery in the upper Midwest.
• National Online Grocery Distribution (Misfit Market) National online distribution of the creamery's artisan goat cheeses and dairy products through the Misfit Market rescue/ugly-produce subscription platform.
• Goat Hikes Guided on-farm goat hikes in which visitors accompany the dairy goat herd on pasture walks; sold per-person as a recreational agritourism experience.
• Farm Tours Ticketed guided tours of the dairy goat pastures, milking parlor, and on-farm creamery for individual visitors and groups.
• Classes and Workshops Educational on-farm classes and workshops, including DIY cheesemaking classes paired with take-home kits, for adults and hobbyists.
• Prairie Explorers Summer Camp Multi-day on-farm summer day camp for school-age children, focused on dairy goat care, farm activities, and exposure to cheesemaking.
• Farm Stay / Farmhouse Rental On-farm overnight lodging available as a paid accommodation for visitors seeking a farm-stay experience.
• Private Event Venue Rentals Rental of on-site private event spaces (The Big Barn, The Loft, Meadow Event Space) for weddings, rehearsal dinners, private parties, and small corporate events, with optional Caprae private dining.
• Farm Share (CSA-style Subscription) Recurring CSA-style subscription that delivers the creamery's cheeses and other farmstead dairy products to subscribers on a scheduled basis.
• Farm Club Membership Recurring paid monthly membership providing members with exclusive perks, discounts, and farm benefits tied to Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery.
• Registered Dairy Goat Sales Sale of ADGA-registered dairy goats from the Prairie Fruits herd to outside buyers, hobbyists, and youth/4-H show families.
• DIY Cheesemaking Kits Take-home DIY cheesemaking kits enabling customers to make cheese at home, paired with on-farm classes and instructional support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 animals scored 78-92 points in ADGA Linear Appraisal, with several does earning 'Excellent' ratings and doe WendySue scoring 92
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Misfit MarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025National distributor of Prairie Fruits Farm cheese products (Everything Bagel Chèvre and Farmer's Cheese) to customers across the country. Alignment with values of sustainability, fighting food waste, and building relationships with farmers and producers.
• Leelanau Cheese Co. (Nik Basford)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Guest cheesemaker from Michigan who partnered for Raclette Cheese Dinner and Farm Fall Celebration events, scraping hot melty raclette onto plates during October events.
• Salt Fork Food WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network connecting farms, food producers, restaurants, and food businesses. Prairie Fruits Farm is one of the living landscapes within this circular system where farms steward land, creameries transform ingredients, restaurants connect communities, and organic materials return to nourish soil. Springfield Food Hub operates within this ecosystem.
• Central Illinois BakehousecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister company managing local delivery operations for Prairie Fruits Farm wholesale distribution. Local deliveries 5 days per week to Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Springfield, St. Louis metro, and limited Chicago metro areas.
• Martinelli's Market and DeliminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved catering partner for on-farm events. Also serves as retail location for Prairie Fruits Farm cheeses in Champaign and Bloomington.
• Pekara Bakery and BistrominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved catering partner for on-farm events. Also carries Prairie Fruits Farm cheeses at their Champaign retail location.
• Michael's CateringminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved catering partner for on-farm events.
• Delight Flower FarmsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved vendor for on-farm events offering wreath-making and floral design classes.
• Fire Doll StudiominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved vendor for on-farm events offering candle making experiences.
• BodyWorks and AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApproved vendor for on-farm events providing chair massage services.
• UIUC VetMedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine providing regular healthcare, preventative observation, student engagement, lab visits, and research projects. Farm tours waived for UIUC VetMed affiliated student groups.
• Kilgus FarmsteadminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of center-cut bone-in pork chop and other ingredients for Caprae restaurant menus. During winter when own goats are dry, creamery makes cheese from Kilgus cow milk.
• Illinois ExtensionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartners for Rooted in Illinois workshop series covering topics like invasive plant species, shrub maintenance, and wellness presentations.
• Prism Community Art SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartners for Art at the Farm workshop series including painting spring flowers, mosaic flower pots, and stained glass tulips.
• Chef Peter GlatzminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCulinary instructor for The Art of Cooking workshop series including focaccia baking, fermentation from koji to kombucha, and other culinary techniques.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Vermont Creamery: Artisan creamery producing farmstead cheeses, butter, and dairy products with a strong direct-to-consumer and foodservice presence. Comparable in scale and craft positioning, though focused on cow's milk and owned by a strategic (Land O'Lakes).
• Cypress Grove: Pioneering American goat cheese maker famous for Humboldt Fog and a portfolio of fresh chèvres. Direct comparable in product category (artisan goat cheese) and national distribution, though at significantly larger scale as part of Emmi.
• Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy: Colorado-based artisan goat cheese producer offering fresh and aged chèvre with wholesale and retail distribution. Comparable in farmstead goat cheese focus and craft brand positioning, though without Prairie Fruits' integrated restaurant and agritourism.
• Redwood Hill Farm / Sebastopol: California farmstead goat dairy producing artisan cheeses, yogurt, and kefir with sustainability credentials and on-farm visits. Comparable in regenerative goat dairy focus, premium branding, and farmstead production model.
• Capriole Cheese: Indiana-based artisan goat cheese producer making fresh and aged varieties from a small farmstead herd. Comparable in scale, product category (artisan goat cheese), and Midwest farmstead production model.
• Jasper Hill Farm: Vermont farmstead cheese operation with on-site affinage, farm tours, and an active wholesale and retail program. Comparable in farmstead cheese craftsmanship, on-farm visitor experiences, and regenerative practices, though cow's milk focused.

Broad incumbents

• Shelburne Farms: Vermont nonprofit farm producing farmstead cheese alongside a major agritourism, education, and inn operation. Comparable in the integration of cheese production with education programming, farm stays, and visitor experiences.
• Blue Hill at Stone Barns: Farm-to-table restaurant located on a working farm with cheese, dairy, and livestock operations. Comparable in the integration of on-farm fine dining (Caprae) with regenerative agriculture and consumer-facing farm experiences.
• Cowgirl Creamery: California artisan cheese maker producing farmstead and specialty cheeses with strong direct-to-consumer and foodservice distribution. Comparable as a mission-driven artisan creamery with multiple retail touchpoints.

Emerging players

• Goat Lady Dairy: North Carolina farmstead goat dairy producing small-batch artisan cheeses with farm visits and events. Comparable as a small-scale farmstead goat cheese producer integrating on-farm hospitality.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/prairiefruitsfarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/prairiefruitsfarm
• Xx.com/PrairieFruits
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prairie-fruits-farm-and-creamery

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery