About Us

Artisanal Farmhouse Cheese

Goot Essa began in 2001 as a six-family cooperative. Our goal has always been to use our cheesemaking expertise to ensure every generation has the means to stay on the farm.

We work our fields in the traditional way – with horses and manpower instead of machines. Every member contributes to the good of the farm, the family, and in turn, the whole community. Our farms are small, allowing each acre and animal to be cared for with love and respect for nature.

Goot Essa’s small-batch approach to cheesemaking ensures our products are flavorful and unique. We want you to experience food fresh from the farm, processed at the peak of flavor.

In the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, “Goot Essa” means “good food” or “good eating.” It’s only natural we named our group Goot Essa, because we want to share our love for handcrafted, European-style cheese with you — so you can share it with friends and family.

Der Gouda Cheese
Emanuel Vom Tal Cheese
Original Wheat Artisan Crackers
Condiments
Mountain Valley Sharp Cheddar
Fudge Selection
Der Edel Bleu Cheese
The Farm Select Assortment

Our Beliefs

Many aspects of Amish life are unique and rooted in tradition. For example, on Sundays, we do not do business of any kind (other than caring for our animals). Also, Amish people are rarely photographed. Because we are not connected to the electrical grid, we only use computers for business purposes. We believe in making great cheese that connects back to the land, and we look forward to sharing new flavors and experiences with you.

Who’s Who at Goot Essa

Our Management Team

John Esh

Owner-Operator

Goot Essa is basically a family business with a national reach. Although begun in 2001 as a cooperative of 6 families, the company is now guided by John Esh Jr., assisted by his wife, Anna Mary. Besides managing Goot Essa, John milks 80 cows,  farms 115 acres, and serves on board of directors for the local vegetable cooperative and the local Amish school board. The Eshes have 9 children and 6 grandchildren. John’s favorite cheese is Der Gouda Cheese.

Anna Mary makes the Goot Essa fudge and apple butter. Besides enjoying her family and her garden, she enjoys developing recipes with Goot Essa cheese. Her favorite cheese is Old German Weissa Cheese.

Sarah  Reichenbach

Account Manager

Sarah is dedicated to building lasting relationships with our wholesale and retail partners. As Goot Essa's account manager, she makes sure every customer feels supported and valued, whether it's guiding a new shop through their order or helping long-time clients discover new cheeses. With her attention to detail and commitment to excellent service, Sarah helps connect people to the flavors and traditions that make Goot Essa special.

Christian Bone

Quality Assurance Manager

Christian is one of the newest members of the Goot Essa team. Christian is responsible for supervising and auditing cheesemaking operations to ensure quality and customer service standards are met. He will support standardized production practices and collaborate with the production and fulfillment teams to identify areas for improvement. Christian will also help ensure that Goot Essa cheeses meet all food safety regulations. Christian has a college degree in Mathematics from Drexel University and nearly 10 years of industry experience in quality assurance and compliance roles.

Mark Wieger

Bookkeeper

Mark keeps our finances running smoothly, managing everything from writing checks to keeping the books in perfect order. His attention to detail ensures that nothing slips through the cracks. Beyond the numbers, Mark brings a dry wit to the office, adding just the right touch of humor to balance the day-to-day work. Reliable, steady, and quietly funny, he's an essential part of our team.

Lacey Glick

Social Media

Lacey is the bridge between Goot Essa and our online community, connecting our handcrafted traditions with the digital world. She brings our story to life on social media—sharing the people, products, and passion behind every wheel of cheese. Through engaging content and authentic connection, Lacey helps grow a community that values quality, heritage, and good food.

Melvin Esh

Shipping Manager

John and Anna Mary Esh's youngest son, Mel, keeps our shipping on track. He carefully packs each order and makes sure it leaves on time. As shipping manager, he's not only precise and dependable but also ready to step in wherever extra hands are needed. His quick wit and love of a good joke keep the workday light, even when things get busy. Outside the shop, Mel lends a hand on the family farm, whether it's mowing fields or tending to the animals. Dedicated, good-humored, and hardworking, he's an important part of both our team and his family's farm life.

Our Cheese Makers

Our cheese makers are dedicated to their craft, which emphasizes preserving our rich cheese traditions and exploring new methods. They make only a few kinds of cheese each so that they can concentrate on ensuring exceptional quality, batch after batch.

Israel Kinsinger

Cheese Maker

Israel is responsible for making our world-famous cheddar cheeses. He is the father of 5 children, 3 of whom are interested in learning to make cheese. A studious man, Israel enjoys reading and tending his animals. His favorite cheese? “I really enjoy a good cheddar,” he says.

Alexis Shirey

Lead Cheese Maker

Alexis is responsible for day-to-day cheese-making operations at Goot Essa. In her role, she schedules cheesemaking operations, including pasteurizing, culturing, pressing, brining, and aging in the cheese cave. Lex also oversees facilities sanitation and manages her team in accordance with Goot Essa’s Food Safety Plan, applicable regulations, and third-party agreements.

Amber

Cheese Maker

Melissa Harrison

Cheese Maker

Klarita Kauffman

Cheese Maker

Our Farmer Suppliers

Unlike large commercial cheesemakers, Goot Essa works directly with our farm suppliers to ensure the milk we use is as fresh as possible. As a result, our cheeses feature a defining buttery taste that we’re sure you’ll love. This also allows us to pay a higher price for their milk and helps keep the family on the farm.

John and Anna Mary Esh

John and Anna Mary Esh supply all the cow milk for Goot Essa. Their 80 cows are fed a balanced diet in addition to pasture. Cow comfort is a primary motivation on the farm. Cows rest on water beds and have access to sprinklers in hot weather. Each cow is treated as an individual and each one is loved. The Eshes have nine children; four are still at home.