Arcata — Cypress Grove today announced plans to transition away from company-owned dairy operations following a strategic review of the long-term sustainability of commercial goat
dairying in Humboldt County.
The decision reflects a renewed focus on Cypress Grove’s core expertise: crafting world-class goat
cheese.
Importantly, the transition does not change the company’s commitment to producing its own cheeses,
maintaining product quality, or preserving the authenticity that has defined the Cypress Grove brand for
more than four decades.
“When Mary Keehn founded Cypress Grove in 1983, she built the company as a cheesemaker — not as a
dairy operator,” said Pamela Dressler, President & Managing Director. “In fact, for most of the company’s
43-year history, we’ve been producing award-winning cheese without owning and operating a commercial
goat dairy.”
Cypress Grove established its dairy operation in 2011 during a period of significant uncertainty within the
regional goat milk supply chain. At the time, reliable access to high-quality goat milk had become
increasingly constrained as local dairies exited the industry, and regional infrastructure weakened. Building
a company-owned dairy was viewed as a necessary investment to help secure milk supply and support
future growth.
Over the next 15 years, the dairy operation accomplished many of the objectives it was designed to
achieve:
Established and maintained a disease-free herd
Developed nationally respected genetics and herd management programs
Maintained Humane Certification status for over 10 years
Built strong partnerships with universities and agricultural researchers
Contributed knowledge and best practices to the broader goat dairy industry
Expanded from 150 doelings to more than 1,500 animals
The company emphasized that the decision to close the dairy was not driven by operational shortcomings,
but rather by the long-term structural economics of commercial goat dairying in Humboldt County.
“Operating a commercial dairy in this region comes with significant structural challenges, including feed
transportation costs, infrastructure demands, labor intensity, and operational risk,” said Dressler. “Despite
years of investment and operational improvements, we no longer see a sustainable path forward in this
specific structure and location.”
The company also noted that the business landscape has evolved considerably since the dairy was
established. Through the broader Emmi network Cypress Grove now has access to one of the most
established goat milk networks in the United States.
“If this milk network had existed in 2011, we likely never would have built our own dairy,” said Dressler.
“The original purpose of the dairy was to secure milk supply during a very different moment in the industry.
Today, we can confidently source high-quality milk through a broader and more resilient network while
focusing our energy and investment on cheesemaking innovation and growth.”
Cypress Grove underscored that the company will continue producing its cheeses in Humboldt County
with the same commitment to craftsmanship, consistency, and quality that has defined the brand for
decades.
“This transition strengthens our ability to remain focused on what we do exceptionally well,” said Dressler
“Our identity has always been rooted in cheesemaking. That remains unchanged.”
The company expressed deep gratitude to the dairy employees, agricultural partners, researchers, and
local community members who contributed to the success of the dairy over the past 15 years.
“We are incredibly proud of the dairy team and what they built,” said Dressler “Their work advanced animal
stewardship, herd health, and operational excellence in meaningful ways. This decision does not diminish
those accomplishments.”
As Cypress Grove moves forward, the company remains committed to investing in premium
cheesemaking, sustainable growth, and the continued advancement of the American goat cheese
category.
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