Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Kansas City, Kan., along with eight New York-area farm families, recently launched a new cheese brand, Craigs Creamery. The brand, which provides a direct connection to New York farms, was created in response to consumers’ interest in wanting to know who produces their food, DFA said.

Craigs Creamery products are crafted with locally sourced, high-quality milk from farms that focus on environmental responsibility. The cheese contains all-natural ingredients and no added hormones.

“As a cooperative, we’re committed to responsibly producing milk and bringing high-quality dairy products from our family farms to family tables,” said Doug Glade, executive vice president, commercial operations, DFA. “With Craigs Creamery, consumers get to know where their food comes from and can have confidence it was sourced responsibly, which we know is highly important to today’s consumer.”

DFA said its farms maintain the tradition of family farming while incorporating the forward-thinking, innovative practices of modern agriculture. One of the farms features a state-of-the-art biodigester that powers the creamery; it is the only digester in the United States that fuels an on-site plant. The digester is powered by animal waste and expired food from the local community; in the past five years, it has upcycled nearly 20 million pounds of food scraps that otherwise would have gone to a landfill.

Craigs Creamery offers a variety of product options, including whole milk mozzarella, Swiss, mild/medium/sharp cheddar and Muenster cheese, which are available in slices, shreds, chunks and snack bars. Craigs Creamery cheese products can be found in retailers such as Giant Landover, Stop & Shop and ShopRite stores on the East Coast.