LONDON, Ont. – In most of the rest of the world, more people drink goat milk and eat goat cheese than products from cows. But North Americans are starting to catch up.
The dairy goat industry is growing by leaps and bounds in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada estimated goat milk production country-wide at more than 21 million litres in 2004. Today, estimates put production at close to 18 million litres in Ontario alone.
The same sorts of products that are made from cow milk are also made from goat milk — homogenized, two per cent, one per cent, skim, organic and chocolate milk, all types of cream, buttermilk, yogurt, sour cream, eggnog, ice cream and sherbet. And more products are being introduced all the time.
But by far the biggest goat milk product is cheese and not just the soft unripened chevre people may be familiar with. There is also goat medium-aged cheddar, mozzarella, feta and brie. U.S. consumers can buy aged goat cheddar and goat Gouda and more of these products will likely become available in Canada.
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