HOWARD — Whether you are just starting your holiday shopping or finishing it up, there is one Centre County location that should be on your Christmas list.
Goot Essa Cheese in Howard features plenty of gift baskets for friends and family. Goot Essa Cheese is owned and operated by John Esh.
If you’re looking for gourmet cheese, Goot Essa has you covered.
“We have 19 cheeses. We have cow, we have goat and sheep’s milk cheeses,” Esh explained. “We work with a number of fine dining restaurants in the mid-Atlantic region — Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh … and you’ll find our cheeses on the cheese boards of many establishments.”
Goot Essa Cheese started 22 years ago. Esh has enjoyed great success, which was the mission all along.
“That was our intent. Our mission, really, is to keep families on the farm. We support three farms at this point. We have our own farm, a sheep farm in Aaronsburg and a goat farm in Tyrone that this process is supporting.”
When it comes to flavors of cheese, you can find anything and everything at Goot Essa. There is an aged cheddar, which Esh said is its “signature cheese.”
“We do some European-style cheeses as well as some flavored cheddars,” Esh said.
When it comes to the cheese-making process, it is truly a labor of love.
“There’s a lot of hand-made labor that goes into it. There’s a lot of love in each batch. Attention to detail is very critical. Being very meticulous helps us get a consistent product, which is what our customers expect,” Esh said.
At Goot Essa, there are a variety of gift baskets to choose from. From “The Cheese Lover’s Dream” to “Christmas Delight,” there simply is something for every taste.
Gift baskets range in price from $30 to $300. There are approximately 60 assortments to choose from. With Shop Local Saturday right around the corner, there’s no better time to visit Goot Essa Cheese.
“My daughter, Sadie, makes several of the mustards; my niece, Linda, makes the jellies; my wife, AnnaMary, makes the apple butter; and the honey is a local honey. It’s all family and community,” Esh explained. “The community gets together to assemble the baskets.”
Esh said there are around 30 seasonal employees at Goot Essa Cheese.
“We have a wide range of ages who help assemble these baskets,” Esh said.
The baskets are made by a family in the community, and Esh’s brother, Mark, makes the cutting boards.
But cheese isn’t all Goot Essa does. There are five types of fudges to choose from for those on your list with a sweet tooth.
“My wife makes all the fudge,” Esh said.
For more information about Goot Essa Cheese, visit gootessacheese.com, call (800) 490-4387 or stop by the shop at 351 Wise Road in Howard. The shop is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Sundays.
Esh said that Goot Essa can ship gifts across the United States.
“We have shipped to all 50 states — and Canada,” Esh said.
