Variety Makes Bekkum's Butter Better

2012 - Volume #36, Issue #1, Page #07

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“We’re famous for our summer butter. It makes a big difference when cows hit the green grass. People go crazy for it,” says Al Bekkum, owner and operator of Nordic Creamery based at his wife’s family farm in Westby, Wis.
  Besides letting nature – and good pasture – flavor his butter, he’s come up with a few delicious concoctions of his own. His cinnamon-sugar, garlic and basil, and maple syrup flavored butters will soon be joined by new flavors: crushed red pepper and chocolate butters. In addition, more customers are discovering his Spesiell Kremen Butter, a cultured butter that starts with incubated cream, and has a wonderful smell and amazing taste.
  Bekkum has been making butter for more than 20 years, since he started at a creamery as a winter job to supplement his construction work income. He never left, and he earned licenses in both cheese-making and butter-making. He now sells varieties of cheese and butter at his on-farm store, at farmers markets, and through distributors and his online store.
  “The butter is more interesting to me. I’ve got more of a passion for butter,” Bekkum explains. “Not a lot of people are doing anything interesting with butter. It all tastes the same, with no variety to it. People are looking for different tastes, a different look.
  “We have a huge following in Chicago,” he adds. “People love to know where their product is coming from, and they like to support smaller producers.”
  Prices for Nordic Creamery butter start at $2.55/8 oz., retail. Online orders are shipped via UPS or FedEx. During the summer, butter is often shipped frozen because freezing doesn’t affect butter’s flavor or texture. For longer distances butter is sometimes shipped with ice packs.
  Bekkum says good butter starts with good fresh cream. He buys cream from four or five sources and will also have some from his own herd starting this year.
  The award-winning Nordic Creamery produces a few thousand pounds of butter per week in addition to a variety of cheeses from goat and cow’s milk.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Al Bekkum, Nordic Creamery, S2244 Langaard Ln., Westby, Wis. 54667 (ph 608 634-3199; www.nordiccreamery.com).

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Variety Makes Bekkum s Butter Better FARM HOME Food “We’re famous for our summer butter It makes a big difference when cows hit the green grass People go crazy for it ” says Al Bekkum owner and operator of Nordic Creamery based at his wife’s family farm in Westby Wis Besides letting nature – and good pasture – flavor his butter he’s come up with a few delicious concoctions of his own His cinnamon-sugar garlic and basil and maple syrup flavored butters will soon be joined by new flavors: crushed red pepper and chocolate butters In addition more customers are discovering his Spesiell Kremen Butter a cultured butter that starts with incubated cream and has a wonderful smell and amazing taste Bekkum has been making butter for more than 20 years since he started at a creamery as a winter job to supplement his construction work income He never left and he earned licenses in both cheese-making and butter-making He now sells varieties of cheese and butter at his on-farm store at farmers markets and through distributors and his online store “The butter is more interesting to me I’ve got more of a passion for butter ” Bekkum explains “Not a lot of people are doing anything interesting with butter It all tastes the same with no variety to it People are looking for different tastes a different look “We have a huge following in Chicago ” he adds “People love to know where their product is coming from and they like to support smaller producers ” Prices for Nordic Creamery butter start at $2 55/8 oz retail Online orders are shipped via UPS or FedEx During the summer butter is often shipped frozen because freezing doesn’t affect butter’s flavor or texture For longer distances butter is sometimes shipped with ice packs Bekkum says good butter starts with good fresh cream He buys cream from four or five sources and will also have some from his own herd starting this year The award-winning Nordic Creamery produces a few thousand pounds of butter per week in addition to a variety of cheeses from goat and cow’s milk Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Al Bekkum Nordic Creamery S2244 Langaard Ln Westby Wis 54667 ph 608 634-3199; www nordiccreamery com

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