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Carmelis Cheese
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Thomas Burns
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Carmelis Goats
THOMAS & AMANDA BURNS
Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan
Carmelis is a small scale boutique dairy located near Okanagan Mountain Park in Kelowna. It produces rich, complex and refined cheeses that render full justice to the quality of the milk and the art of cheese making. The cheeses are produced using traditional techniques and from 100% goat milk that comes from the farm’s own goats and an organic goat farmer in Grand Forks. A visit to the farm includes tours and tastings of Carmelis’ gelato as well as the broad range of cheeses.
I am proud to be a farmer today because I have always loved great food and learning about where it was produced. I take great pride in being able to produce something from start to finish on the farm and seeing the smiles on our customers’ faces as they give it a try.
A good day at the office includes a bunch of happy and healthy goats and excited customers coming to see us. It’s also a good day when we can keep to some kind of a schedule.
A hard day at the office is when an issue comes up and it throws my day two or three hours sideways. As the proprietor of a farm and food manufacturing business, I tend to operate by the minute rather than the hour and I usually have a general plan when I wake up in the morning for what I want to do. That said, when you are dealing with livestock and food production no two days are ever the same and I really enjoy that as well.
My advice to others looking to operate a farm business today is be prepared to work very hard. Most the time you work long hours to get everything done you set out to accomplish. It is important to have family that will support you in your farm project, or find a good team that shares your passion for what you’re doing.