Cricket Creek Farm

What Cricket Creek Farm does

Cricket Creek Farm is a family-owned, grass-based dairy operation located on 200 acres in Williamstown, Massachusetts, founded in 2002 when the Sabot family purchased the property to keep it as a working farm under Agricultural Protection restrictions. The farm milks a herd of 25-30 grass-fed cows year-round (genetics include Jersey, Brown Swiss, Milking Devon, Normande, New Zealand Friesian, and Kiwi Cross) and produces raw cow's milk, grass-fed beef, rose veal, and pastured pork. Its core commercial differentiator is an on-site creamery producing artisanal farmstead cheeses developed over more than two decades in collaboration with an Italian cheesemaker; flagship active products are Maggie's Round and Maggie's Reserve, which have won American Cheese Society and Good Food Awards between 2011 and 2018. Four additional cheese varieties (Tobasi, Berkshire Bloom, Feta, Sophelise) are currently not in production. The farm runs an integrated closed-loop system: whey from cheesemaking feeds heritage-breed pigs, nurse cows raise calves, and rotational grazing is practiced on 200 acres of pasture from May through November.

Cricket Creek serves four distinct customer segments: local consumers at its self-serve honor-system farm store (open daily 7am-7pm), shoppers at three Berkshire-region farmers markets with SNAP match up to $30, Northeast wholesale cheese and meat buyers (through seven regional distributors and direct accounts at venues including Eataly Boston, Canyon Ranch, Charles Hotel, Formaggio Kitchen, and The Red Lion Inn), and wedding and corporate event clients at its renovated Stone Barn venue (capacity up to 150 guests indoors, 300 under tents). Meat is processed at USDA-certified Eagle Bridge Custom Meats & Smokehouse under an Animal Welfare Approved partner.

Operationally the farm has experienced meaningful stress: in 2024 it switched from twice-daily to once-daily milking due to staffing shortages, and co-owner Jude Sabot passed away in September 2023. Leadership currently consists of owner/head farmer Topher Sabot (taking over daily operations in 2009), farm manager Michelle Johnson (ex-Deloitte audit background), operations and wholesale coordinator Justice Pratt, creamery assistant Elayne Murphy, and business advisor Anna Halpin-Healy; the farm is supplemented by a small farmers market team and a volunteer base. The company has not raised external funding and remains privately held by the Sabot family.

Name

Cricket Creek Farm

Legal name

Cricket Creek Farm

Website

https://cricketcreekfarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cricket Creek Farm is a family-owned, 200-acre grass-based dairy in Williamstown, Massachusetts that milks 25-30 cows to produce raw milk, grass-fed beef, whey-fed pork, rose veal, and award-winning artisanal farmstead cheeses sold through an on-site farm store, Northeast farmers markets, regional distributors, restaurants, and a wedding venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy and Livestock Farming

NAICS

Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (112120), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (11212)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Milk Production (Raw Milk) (AFAEACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pasture-Based & Grazing Dairy Systems (AFAEACAI), Beef Cattle Grazing & Pasture-Based Operations (AFAEABAG), Dairy Farm Direct-to-Consumer Raw Milk Sales (where legal) (AFAEACAN)

Keywords

• Raw milk production
• Grass-fed beef
• Artisanal farmstead cheese
• Pastured pork
• Dairy farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Williamstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 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. Farm Store Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of raw milk, cheese, beef, pork, and veal through an on-site self-serve farm store operating on honor system. Open 7 days a week, 7am-7pm. Also carries local food products from partner farms and businesses.
2. Farmers Market Sales: Sales at multiple farmers markets in the Berkshire region including Great Barrington, North Adams, and Williamstown. Accepts SNAP with match programs up to $30.
3. Wholesale Cheese Distribution: Wholesale cheese distribution through distributors (Crescent Creamery, Hudson Harvest, Marty's Local, Provisions International, Seacrest Foods, Sid Wainer/Chef's Warehouse, Veritas Family of Farms) and direct to cheese shops, co-ops, restaurants, and grocers throughout the Northeast.
4. Restaurant Wholesale Meat: Direct wholesale meat sales to restaurants, with creative partnerships to ensure whole-animal utilization. Pricing and cuts discussed directly with chefs.
5. Bulk Meat Package Sales: Bulk meat packages (1/4 and 1/2 animal shares) sold through online store with deposit. Final pricing by weight. Packages include variety of cuts in vacuum-sealed frozen form.
6. Wedding and Event Venue Rental: Event venue hosting at renovated stone barn (up to 150 capacity) and pasture spaces (up to 300 under tents). Bookings through [email protected].

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cricket Creek Farm is a small grass-based dairy farm producing raw cow's milk, grass-fed beef, rose veal, whey-fed pastured pork, and award-winning artisanal farmstead cheeses. It sells directly via an on-site farm store, farmers markets, and bulk meat packages, and wholesales cheese and meat to distributors, restaurants, and grocers across the Northeast.

Product overview

Cricket Creek Farm is a small, grass-based dairy farm producing raw cow's milk, grass-fed beef, rose veal, and pastured pork. The farm is best known for its artisanal, award-winning farmstead cheeses, including flagship products Maggie's Round and Maggie's Reserve. Currently, Maggie's Round and Maggie's Reserve are the primary actively-produced cheeses, while Tobasi, Berkshire Bloom, Feta, and Sophelise are not currently in production. The farm operates a self-serve farm store, sells through farmers markets, and offers bulk meat packages. The Stone Barn serves as an event venue for weddings and celebrations. The farm also distributes cheese through a network of distributors including Crescent Creamery, Hudson Harvest, Marty's Local, and others throughout the Northeast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Raw Cow's Milk Raw cow's milk produced from grass-fed cows in the Berkshire hills, sold at the on-site farm store. Sold in plastic gallon, plastic half-gallon, and glass half-gallon formats. For local retail consumers.
• Grass-Fed Beef Beef from cattle that are 96-100% grass-fed, rotationally grazed on pasture and processed at USDA-certified facilities. Sold to consumers and restaurants.
• Rose Veal Ethically raised veal from calves raised on nurse cows, grazing on pasture and fed whole milk, processed at 4-6 months of age.
• Pastured Pork Heritage breed pork primarily fed on whey from cheesemaking, supplemented with vegetable scraps and spent grain, raised on pasture.
• Maggie's Round Semi-firm, raw milk cheese inspired by Tomas of the Italian Alps, aged 6-12 months, with flavors of swiss and cheddar. Awarded 2011 ACS 1st place and 2016 Good Food Awards 1st place.
• Maggie's Reserve Raw milk cheese aged 24-48 months, developing savory richness with complex flavors including notes of caramel and pineapple and tyrosine crystals. Awarded 2012 ACS 1st place and 2018 2nd place.
• Tobasi Washed-rind cheese inspired by Taleggio, semi-soft with custardy texture and earthy flavors. Awarded 2016 Yankee Magazine Food Editors Choice Award. Currently not in production.
• Berkshire Bloom Camembert-style cheese with bloomy rind, mushroomy creamline, and tangy mild interior. Currently not in production.
• Feta Creamy and fresh feta made from pasteurized milk of Jersey and Brown Swiss cows, crumbly and briney. Currently not in production.
• Sophelise Soft washed-rind cheese, a Cricket Creek Farm original with pungent rind for fans of Reblochon. Currently not in production.
• Farm Store Self-serve, honor-system farm store open 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm, selling raw milk, cheese, meat, and locally sourced products including butter, honey, pasta, coffee, and ice cream.
• The Stone Barn (Weddings & Events Venue) Renovated classic New England stone barn with retractable glass wall and views of Mt. Greylock, hosting receptions up to 150 guests. Also known as The Barn at Cricket Creek.
• Bulk Meat Packages Wholesale bulk packages (1/4 and 1/2 animal shares) of beef, pork, and veal sold by finished weight, available for pre-order and pickup, processed at USDA-certified Eagle Bridge Custom Meats.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25-30 cows milked year-round, with nearly 100 total animals on farm
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Crescent CreamerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCheese distribution partner distributing Cricket Creek Farm artisanal cheeses to retailers and restaurants throughout the Northeast region.
• Hudson HarvestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCheese distribution partner distributing Cricket Creek Farm cheeses to retailers and restaurants in the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas.
• Marty's LocalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal cheese and specialty food distributor serving the New England region with Cricket Creek Farm products.
• Provisions InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational specialty food distributor handling Cricket Creek Farm cheese distribution.
• Seacrest FoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFoodservice distributor supplying Cricket Creek Farm cheeses to restaurants and institutions.
• Sid Wainer/Chef's WarehousecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty food distributor known for artisanal and farmstead products, distributing Cricket Creek Farm cheeses.
• Veritas Family of FarmscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution network connecting local farms with retailers, distributing Cricket Creek Farm cheeses.
• Eagle Bridge Custom Meats & SmokehousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA-certified meat processing facility in Eagle Bridge, NY. Processes all beef, pork, and veal from Cricket Creek Farm. Known for humane processing practices and Animal Welfare Approved certification. Critical partnership for quality and regulatory compliance.
• Ioka Valley FarmminorOthersLocal Hancock, MA farm providing balayage, haylage, and dry hay feed for dairy cows during winter months.
• Fairfield Dairy FarmminorOthersLocal Williamstown, MA farm supplying fermented grass feed (balayage and haylage) for winter cow feeding.
• Local Granary in LanesboroughminorOthersLocal granary supplying wet mash grain feed for pigs when whey is not available from cheese production.
• Images CinemaminorOthersWilliamstown, MA cinema that provides leftover organic popcorn for pig feed, supporting farm waste reduction efforts.
• Appalachian NaturalsminorOthersGoshen-based producer whose products are carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• Backyard Brine PicklesminorOthersCutchogue, NY-based producer whose pickles are carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• Blake Hill PreservesminorOthersWindsor, VT-based preserves producer carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• Kitchen Garden FarmminorOthersSunderland, MA farm whose products are carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• No. Six Depot CoffeeminorOthersWest Stockbridge, MA coffee roaster whose products are carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• Sidehill FarmminorOthersHawley, MA farm whose products are carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• Square Roots Farm EggsminorOthersLanesborough, MA farm whose eggs are carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• Underline FarmminorOthersEasthampton, MA farm whose products are carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• Wild Soul RiverminorOthersWilliamstown, MA-based producer whose products are carried in the Cricket Creek Farm store.
• Magdalena Events & DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWedding design and planning partner featured in Cricket Creek Farm wedding productions.
• Classical TentsminorOthersTent rental partner for weddings and events hosted at Cricket Creek Farm.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shelburne Farms: Vermont-based farmstead cheese and agricultural education operation on a historic estate; directly comparable as a working dairy farm with award-winning artisanal cheese, on-site store, and agritourism venue in the New England region.
• Jasper Hill Farm: Greensboro, Vermont artisan cheese maker producing raw-milk farmstead cheeses with national wholesale distribution; directly comparable product category, raw-milk technique, and Northeast specialty retail/foodservice channel mix.
• Consider Bardwell Farm: West Pawlet, Vermont small-scale farmstead cheese producer using milk from their own herd; closely comparable in scale, raw-milk artisan cheese focus, and Northeast farm-to-table wholesale positioning.
• Vermont Creamery: Websterville, Vermont artisanal creamery producing farmstead cheeses and cultured dairy with broad specialty and foodservice distribution; directly comparable as a Vermont-based premium cheese brand with similar wholesale go-to-market.
• Hawthorne Valley Farm: Ghent, NY biodynamic farm producing raw milk, farmstead cheeses, and pasture-raised meats with on-site farm store; comparable as a Northeast grass-based dairy with raw milk, artisanal cheese, and direct retail channels.
• Old Chatham Sheepherding Company: Hudson Valley, NY farmstead sheep dairy producing award-winning artisanal cheeses from pasture-raised animals; comparable Northeast farmstead cheese brand with specialty wholesale and farm store retail.
• Blue Hill Farm at Stone Barns: Pocantico Hills, NY farm supplying Blue Hill restaurant with pasture-raised livestock and dairy; comparable regenerative agriculture model, premium restaurant/wholesale channel, and farm-as-brand positioning.

Emerging players

• Maple Hill Creamery: New York-based grass-fed dairy brand sourcing from a cooperative of small farms; comparable grass-fed dairy positioning but operates at significantly larger scale with national retail distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Stonyfield Organic: New Hampshire-based organic dairy brand with national retail presence; broader incumbent in the Northeast organic/grass-fed dairy space with overlapping values-driven consumer base.
• Cabot Creamery Cooperative: Vermont dairy cooperative with broad cheese and dairy product portfolio distributed nationally; broader incumbent in New England dairy and cheese with overlapping wholesale relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cricketcreekfarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/cricketcreekfarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cricket-creek-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Cricket Creek Farm