von Trapp Farmstead
von Trapp Farmstead is a third-generation family-run organic creamery and farm in Waitsfield, Vermont, producing five artisan cheeses, yogurts, pastured whey-fed pork, beef, and raw milk from a 45–50 cow A2 grass-fed herd, sold via farm store, nationwide e-commerce, CSA, and specialty wholesale distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersWaitsfield, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What von Trapp Farmstead does
von Trapp Farmstead is a privately held, third-generation family farm and on-site creamery in Waitsfield, Vermont, founded in 1959 and currently operated by Sebastian von Trapp and Molly Semler. The business runs a fully vertically integrated farmstead operation: a 45–50 cow A2-genetics, 99% grass-fed, once-a-day-milked herd supplies the creamery, which produces five organic artisan cheeses (Mt Alice bloomy-rind, Oma washed-rind, Mad River Blue, Savage alpine-style, and Shred It semi-soft), cup-set whole-milk yogurts, and whey-fed pastured pork and beef, alongside a seasonal raw milk CSA.
The cheesemaking operation applies four distinct technical processes to the same base ingredients (small-curd cutting and pressing for Savage, high-moisture external ripening for Mt Alice, brine washing for Oma, curd demineralization for Mad River Blue), refined over 15+ years and supported by on-farm cheese caves. Dual organic certification (Vermont Organic Farmers and the Real Organic Project), regenerative soil practices, and full whey upcycling into pig feed comprise the operational backbone. The farm won two Super Golds at the 2024 World Cheese Awards — the only US farmstead to do so that year.
The company makes money through three channels: a year-round farm store stocking its products plus 40+ curated Vermont producers (local and tourist customers), a nationwide direct-to-consumer e-commerce site with 2-day shipping (gift boxes, custom boxes, and the $89.99/4-week Cheese Lover 3-month subscription), and wholesale distribution through 12+ specialty food distributors led by Saxelby Cheesemongers and Murray's Cheese. The raw-milk CSA (weekly half-gallon shares over a 13-week season, $78–$156 per share) provides a recurring revenue stream. The operation runs with approximately 10 employees plus 3 family members, with no external investors.
von Trapp Farmstead firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- von Trapp Farmstead
- Legal name
- von Trapp Farmstead LLC
- Website
- https://vontrappfarmstead.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- von Trapp Farmstead is a third-generation family-run organic creamery and farm in Waitsfield, Vermont, producing five artisan cheeses, yogurts, pastured whey-fed pork, beef, and raw milk from a 45–50 cow A2 grass-fed herd, sold via farm store, nationwide e-commerce, CSA, and specialty wholesale distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
von Trapp Farmstead industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisan Farmstead Cheese
- NAICS
- Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dairy Cattle and Milk Production (112120)
- SIC
- Dairy Products (2020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue) (AFAHABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Milk Production (Raw Milk) (AFAEACAA), Organic Dairy & Eggs Wholesale (AFAIAJAC), Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)
Keywords
Where von Trapp Farmstead is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waitsfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
von Trapp Farmstead business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Artisan Cheese Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales with 2-day shipping nationwide; wholesale through 12+ specialty food distributors; and retail at the on-farm store. Products include award-winning organic cheeses (Mt Alice, Oma, Mad River Blue, Savage, Shred It).
- Organic Yogurt Sales: Plain and maple organic yogurts sold at the farm store and online. No additives or stabilizers; sweetened only with Vermont maple syrup.
- Pastured Meat and Pork Sales: Whey-fed pastured pork (ground, sausage, bacon, roasts), beef, and seasonal salamis sold exclusively through the farm store. Byproduct whey from cheesemaking and spent grains from local breweries are upcycled into pig feed.
- Raw Milk CSA Program: 13-week seasonal subscription (weekly half-gallon raw milk shares) with Wednesday or Friday/Saturday pickup at the farm store. One share costs $78 plus a $5/bottle deposit; two shares (gallon) costs $156 plus two deposits. Prorated for mid-season joiners.
- Cheese Subscription Box: Cheese Lover 3-month subscription delivering 4–5 cheeses every 4 weeks ($89.99 per shipment, auto-renews). Ships on the 1st or 3rd Tuesday of each month with free 2-day shipping in the contiguous US.
- Farm Store Retail: Year-round farm store retail location carrying the farm’s own products alongside 40+ curated Vermont producers including charcuterie, beer, wine, organic produce, prepared foods, pantry staples, maple syrup, and gifts. The store carries products from over 50 local producers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Cheese Please curated box (all 4 cheeses + jam + crackers) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Cheese Box |
| Subscription | Monthly | Cheese Lover 3-Month Subscription |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Raw Milk CSA Share (13 weeks) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Cheesemaker employment compensation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
von Trapp Farmstead product offering
Product offeringCore offering
von Trapp Farmstead is a third-generation family farmstead in Waitsfield, Vermont that produces artisan organic cheese, cream-top whole milk yogurts, and pastured meats from its own grass-fed A2-genetics herd. The creamery produces five signature cheese styles (bloomy-rind Mt Alice, washed-rind Oma, blue Mad River Blue, alpine-style Savage, and semi-soft Shred It) aged on-site in farm caves, alongside organic raw milk sold via CSA and pastured whey-fed pork and beef sold through the farm store.
Product overview
von Trapp Farmstead is a third-generation family farm and creamery in Waitsfield, Vermont, established in 1959. The company operates as a unified farmstead operation producing artisan organic cheese, yogurt, pastured meats, and raw milk. Their core product portfolio includes five award-winning cheese varieties: Mt Alice (bloomy-rind), Oma (washed rind), Mad River Blue (blue cheese), Savage (alpine-style), and Shred It (semi-soft for shredding). These are complemented by organic yogurts (plain and maple varieties) and pastured pork and beef products. Products are sold through multiple channels: an e-commerce online store with nationwide shipping, a year-round farm store in Waitsfield, a raw milk CSA program, and wholesale distribution through select partners. The company also offers farm tours and cheese tastings as an experiential service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mt Alice Bloomy-rind organic farmstead cheese externally ripened with Penicillium candidum and Geotrichum; soft, gooey texture with buttery, mushroom-y, and brassica flavors. Sold to consumers, retail, and foodservice.
- Oma Washed-rind organic farmstead cheese ripened with yeasts and bacteria producing fruity (papaya), meaty (ham, salami), and brassica notes. Named after Erika von Trapp, the farm matriarch.
- Mad River Blue Internally ripened organic blue cheese made with Penicillium roqueforti using curd demineralization; crumbly texture with buttery bites and blue mold rivers.
- Savage Alpine-style organic farmstead cheese that is cooked and pressed with small curd cuts, then long-aged for subtle but complex flavors.
- Shred It (Farmers Motz) Semi-soft organic farmstead cheese designed for shredding and melting, with a springy texture suitable for pizza, lasagna, and tacos. Newest cheese introduced in 2025.
- Organic Whole Milk Yogurt (Plain and Maple) Cup-set organic whole milk cream-top yogurt in plain and maple (Vermont maple syrup sweetened) varieties, with no additives, stabilizers, or whey straining; contains live lactic cultures.
- Whey-Fed Pastured Pork, Beef, and Salamis Pastured pork (ground, sausage, bacon, roasts) fed on whey from cheesemaking plus spent brewery grains and bakery leftovers; beef from heritage Jersey/Ayrshire/Montbeliarde/Normande milking herd; and seasonal salamis (Saucisson Sec, Soppressata, Finocchiona).
- Raw Milk CSA Program 13-week Community-Supported Agriculture subscription delivering weekly organic raw milk shares (half-gallon or gallon) from the farm's A2 grass-fed herd, picked up at the farm store in Waitsfield, VT.
- Farm Store (On-Farm Retail) Year-round on-farm retail store at 251 Common Road, Waitsfield VT, selling the farm's cheeses, yogurts, meats, and raw milk alongside curated products from 40+ Vermont producers including charcuterie, beer, wine, maple syrup, and gifts.
- Farm Tour & Cheese Tasting Guided farm tour and cheese tasting experience walking through pastures, visiting cows, learning cheesemaking, and sampling all the farm's award-winning organic cheeses; private tours available by arrangement.
- Cheese Lover 3-Month Subscription Recurring 3-month subscription delivering 4-5 artisan cheeses every 4 weeks with free 2-day nationwide shipping.
- Cheese Please Curated Box Curated gift box with 1/2 lb each of all four core cheeses plus Blake Hill Jam and Rustic Bakery crackers; free shipping in contiguous US.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% drop in milk volume but significant increase in solids (fat and protein) after switching to once-a-day milking in March 2023
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use von Trapp Farmstead
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
von Trapp Farmstead technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
von Trapp Farmstead partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- Jasper HillmajorFor 15 years (2009–2024), von Trapp Farmstead sent young Oma cheese to Jasper Hill Cellars for aging and ripening, collaborating to develop the cheese's character. As of September 2024, this partnership has ended — the farm is now aging Oma in its own on-farm caves.
- Saxelby CheesemongerscoreSaxelby Cheesemongers is a wholesale buyer and long-time supporter of von Trapp Farmstead, helping introduce their cheeses to NYC and Northeast markets. Founder Anne Saxelby was a champion of American farmstead cheese; her advocacy was key to the farm's early visibility.
- Murray's CheesecoreMurray's Cheese is a NYC-based specialty cheese retailer and wholesale buyer of von Trapp Farmstead artisan cheeses.
- Provisions InternationalcoreSpecialty food distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead cheeses to wholesale buyers.
- Seacrest FoodscoreSpecialty food distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead cheeses to wholesale buyers.
- Third Wheel Cheese Co.coreSpecialty cheese wholesale distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead products.
- Myers ProducecoreRegional produce and specialty food distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead cheeses.
- Dole and BaileycoreNew England specialty food distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead cheeses.
- Black River ProducecoreRegional Vermont specialty food distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead products.
- Tomales Bay FoodscoreSpecialty food wholesale distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead cheeses.
- Gourmet ImportscoreSpecialty food import and distribution partner carrying von Trapp Farmstead cheeses.
- C. Hesse CheesecoreSpecialty cheese distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead products.
- Food Matters AgaincoreSpecialty food distributor carrying von Trapp Farmstead cheeses.
- Lawson's Finest LiquidsminorLocal Vermont brewery whose spent brewing grains are upcycled as feed for von Trapp Farmstead's pastured pigs, supporting the farm's regenerative waste-cycling model.
- Red Hen BakeryminorLocal bakery whose leftover bread is used as supplemental feed for von Trapp Farmstead's pastured pigs.
- Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund (ASLF)minorNon-profit fund created in honor of Anne Saxelby, providing month-long paid apprenticeships for young adults on sustainable farms. von Trapp Farmstead hosts an apprentice annually, and each year the farm sells a benefit ASLF cheese box (donating 10% of proceeds).
- von Trapp Family Lodge and von Trapp BrewingminorRelated family business operating a lodge, brewery, and Bierhall in Stowe, VT. von Trapp Farmstead sells von Trapp beer and uses the Bierhall's cheese in their kitchens. The businesses operate independently but collaborate.
- von Trapp FlowersminorRelated family business operating a flower shop next to the farmstead, started by Tobias and Sally von Trapp. von Trapp Farmstead carries von Trapp Flowers products in the farm store.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
von Trapp Farmstead competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vermont Creamery: Websterville, VT creamery producing artisan goat-milk cheeses, cultured butters, and crème fraîche with national wholesale distribution. Direct peer: Vermont-based dairy manufacturer with a strong specialty-food wholesale footprint and overlapping farmstead-to-retailer positioning.
- Shelburne Farms: Shelburne, VT working farm and nonprofit producing farmstead cheddar and other artisan cheeses from its own herd, with a strong farm-visit and educational mission. Direct peer: Vermont farmstead cheesemaker with award-winning cheeses, on-farm store, and agritourism programming.
- Cypress Grove: Arcata, CA artisan cheese maker best known for Humboldt Fog and a portfolio of fresh and aged goat and cow cheeses distributed nationally through specialty and natural food retailers. Direct peer: artisan multi-style cheesemaker with comparable premium DTC and wholesale positioning.
- Rogue Creamery: Central Point, OR farmstead cheesemaker famous for its Rogue River Blue and other blue cheeses, with national and international wholesale distribution. Direct peer: farmstead blue cheese specialist with global awards and a comparable DTC-plus-wholesale model.
- Jasper Hill Farm: Greensboro, VT farmstead cheesemaker operating on-farm cellars, milking its own herd and producing a portfolio of raw-milk cheeses including Bayley Hazen Blue and Harbison. Direct peer: same farmstead model, same Vermont geography, same multi-cheese lineup, and was von Trapp's aging partner on Oma for 15 years until 2024.
- Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese: Point Reyes, CA farmstead cheesemaker producing a portfolio of award-winning cheeses (including Original Blue and Toma) from its own dairy herd, distributed through specialty and natural foods channels nationwide. Direct peer: farmstead cheesemaker with multiple cheese styles, broad wholesale, and DTC e-commerce.
Regional players
- Hawthorne Valley Farm: Biodynamic farm in Ghent, NY producing artisan raw-milk cheeses, yogurt, and pastured meats, with an on-farm store and regional wholesale. Regional peer: Northeast farmstead dairy and cheese operation with a comparable organic/regenerative, on-farm-store model, though primarily distributed in the Hudson Valley rather than nationally.
Broad incumbents
- Organic Valley: La Farge, WI farmer-owned organic dairy cooperative producing organic milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt with national distribution. Broad incumbent: organic dairy category leader whose product portfolio directly overlaps with von Trapp's cheese and yogurt lines, but at commodity-scale volumes and prices rather than farmstead premium.
- Cabot Creamery: Waitsfield, VT farmer-owned dairy cooperative producing cheddar, butter, and other dairy products with national grocery distribution. Broad incumbent: Vermont-headquartered dairy cooperative based in the same town as von Trapp, with overlapping cheese portfolio but commodity-scale positioning and mass-market retail channels.
- Stonyfield Farm: Londonderry, NH organic yogurt and dairy brand with national grocery distribution under the Stonyfield and Stonyfield Organic labels. Broad incumbent: large-scale organic dairy manufacturer overlapping with von Trapp's yogurt line and organic certification, but operating at industrial scale and serving mass-market grocery rather than farmstead specialty channels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
von Trapp Farmstead social profiles
Digital presencevon Trapp Farmstead financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
von Trapp Farmstead leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
von Trapp Farmstead funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
von Trapp Farmstead M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about von Trapp Farmstead
What does von Trapp Farmstead do?
von Trapp Farmstead is a third-generation family farmstead in Waitsfield, Vermont that produces artisan organic cheese, cream-top whole milk yogurts, and pastured meats from its own grass-fed A2-genetics herd. The creamery produces five signature cheese styles (bloomy-rind Mt Alice, washed-rind Oma, blue Mad River Blue, alpine-style Savage, and semi-soft Shred It) aged on-site in farm caves, alongside organic raw milk sold via CSA and pastured whey-fed pork and beef sold through the farm store.
Is von Trapp Farmstead a public or private company?
von Trapp Farmstead is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was von Trapp Farmstead founded?
von Trapp Farmstead was founded in 1959. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is von Trapp Farmstead based?
von Trapp Farmstead is headquartered in Waitsfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does von Trapp Farmstead make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Artisan Cheese Sales are the primary driver. The others are organic Yogurt Sales, pastured Meat and Pork Sales, raw Milk CSA Program, cheese Subscription Box and farm Store Retail.
Who are von Trapp Farmstead's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vermont Creamery, Shelburne Farms, Cypress Grove, Rogue Creamery, Jasper Hill Farm and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese. Hawthorne Valley Farm is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Organic Valley, Cabot Creamery and Stonyfield Farm.
Does von Trapp Farmstead have an API?
No public API is recorded for von Trapp Farmstead.
What industry is von Trapp Farmstead in?
von Trapp Farmstead's product category is Artisan Farmstead Cheese. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAHABAB, Ripened Natural Cheese Manufacturing (Semi-Soft, Hard & Blue), with a secondary code of AFAEACAA, Milk Production (Raw Milk). Its NAICS code is 31151 and its SIC code is 2020.