Ruth Flore

Ruth has played a significant role in developing the specialty cheese industry in America for over two decades. Since her early marketing efforts for Vermont Butter and Cheese Company/Vermont Creamery she has been a consultant for the industry bringing specialty/small production cheesemakers’ products to market on both a regional and national level. She formerly led the Grafton Village Cheese Company in Grafton, Vermont — a mission driven business of the nonprofit Windham Foundation — that has made award-winning small-batch aged cheddar and specialty cheeses for over 60 years. Promoting Vermont’s rural communities, the Windham Foundation works to preserve and enhance the social, economic, and cultural vitality of Vermont’s smaller communities and their rural way of life. Ruth has been a leading member of the American Cheese Society since its early days serving as president, conference co-chair, and on the board of directors. Ruth co-founded the Cheese of Choice Coalition in 1999 to protect production and sale of raw-milk cheese in the US. She consulted with Will Studd in the research, development, and production of the Cheese Slices series. She is a member of the prestigious Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. When not laboring on behalf of good cheese, Ruth enjoys photography, cooking and travel – not necessarily in that order.