After several years of planning and development, the Pontiac’s first cheese production facility is nearing completion.
Maryse Vallières, the brains behind the Fromagerie La Drave, as it will be called, spoke with CHIP 101.9 about the the current state of the project and the steps she’s taken so far. Last spring, she rented a lab in St-Hyacinthe to work on product development, adding that they were currently ageing some cheddar that would be ready for a taste test at the end of the month. The company is also working on a cheese for grilling.
Currently, Vallières is seeking federal authorization to sell her products on both sides of the Ottawa River, a process she said is more complicated than just going through provincial ministry.
Vallières said that she was aiming to begin construction next year with the goal of having products to sell by the end of 2025, though there are still quite a few factors at play.
