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 Jr.

Owner

Goot Essa is a family-run business with a national presence, rooted in the traditions and values of rural Pennsylvania. Founded in 2001 as a cooperative of six families, Goot Essa is now led by John Esh Jr., with the support of his wife, Anna Mary. Together, they continue to honor the company's mission: crafting exceptional, handmade cheeses and specialty foods using time-honored methods. In addition to managing Goot Essa, John farms 115 acres, serves on the board of the local vegetable cooperative, and mentors several young farming families. He and Anna Mary are the proud parents of nine children and grandparents of thirteen. Anna Mary brings warmth and creativity to Goot Essa through her homemade fudge and apple butter. A passionate cook and gardener, she loves developing new recipes that highlight Goot Essa cheeses.

Sarah  Reichenbach

Accounts Manager

Sarah brings both dedication and warmth to her role as account manager at Goot Essa. She is passionate about building lasting relationships with our wholesale and retail partners, ensuring every customer feels supported and valued. Whether guiding a new shop through their first order or helping longtime clients explore new cheeses, Sarah connects people to the flavors and traditions that make Goot Essa special. Known for her friendly, engaging nature, she is always ready with an encouraging word or a helpful hand. With her attention to detail, commitment to excellent service, and genuine kindness, Sarah plays an essential role in keeping the Goot Essa family thriving and the experience of our cheeses memorable for all.

Quality Assurance Manager

Our Quality Assurance Manager brings both expertise and care to this role at Goot Essa, ensuring that every wheel of cheese meets the high standards our customers expect. This job includes supervising and auditing cheesemaking operations, supporting standardized production practices, and collaborating closely with the production and fulfillment teams to identify ways to improve processes. Attention to detail and thoughtful approach and helping maintain consistent quality while ensuring all food safety regulations are met is key. Requiring steady guidance, problem-solving skills, and dedication to excellence make our Quality Assurance Manger an essential part of the Goot Essa family, helping preserve the tradition of handcrafted artisan cheese that defines our brand.

Mark Wieger

Bookkeeper

Mark keeps Goot Essa's 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. With her friendly personality and warm, caring heart, she brings our story to life on social media—sharing the people, products, and passion behind every wheel of cheese. Her genuine love for good food and appreciation for craftsmanship shine through in everything she creates. Through engaging content and authentic connection, Lacey helps grow a community that celebrates quality, heritage, and the simple joy of sharing something truly delicious.

Melvin Esh

Order Fulfillment Lead

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 fulfillment 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.

Linda

Assistant Accounts Manager

Linda brings a sweet, thoughtful presence to her role as assistant account manager at Goot Essa. Quiet but kind, she is always encouraging and considerate, making everyone she works with feel supported. Dedicated and meticulous, she pays close attention to every detail, ensuring that each task is completed with care and precision. Whether managing accounts, coordinating details behind the scenes, or assisting her teammates, Linda approaches her work with a steady and reliable hand. Her gentle nature, professionalism, and quiet warmth make her a true delight to spend time with and a valued member of the Goot Essa family.

Ben Stoltzfus

Retail Room Manager

Ben brings a gentle, kind spirit and a warm smile to his role as retail room manager at Goot Essa. He is the friendly face who welcomes every visitor to the shop, ready to answer questions, share cheese stories, and help customers find the perfect flavors for their tastes. Known for his approachable and positive attitude, Ben makes each visit feel personal and inviting. Beyond assisting customers, he helps keep the retail room running smoothly, ensuring that every display is inviting and every order is handled with care. His dedication, friendliness, and genuine love for connecting with people make him an essential part of the Goot Essa family and a key reason visitors leave with a smile.

Our Cheesemakers

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

Cheesemaker

Israel brings both skill and passion to his role as cheesemaker. He is responsible for crafting our world-famous cheddar cheeses. From carefully monitoring the curds to tending the aging blocks, he ensures every batch meets the high standards of flavor, texture, and quality that define our cheeses. Beyond the creamery, Israel is a studious and thoughtful man who enjoys reading and caring for his animals, bringing the same care and attention to the farm as he does to every batch of cheese. With his steady hands, meticulous approach, and deep respect for tradition, Israel plays a vital role in maintaining Goot Essa’s legacy of handcrafted artisan excellence.

Alexis Shirey

Lead Cheesemaker

Alexis brings both expertise and passion to her role as lead cheesemaker at Goot Essa, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the creamery with care and precision. She manages every stage of the cheesemaking process—from pasteurizing and curd cutting to pressing, brining, and aging wheels in the cheese cave—ensuring each batch meets the high standards of flavor and quality Goot Essa is known for. Alexis also supervises facility operations and sanitation, guiding the team to maintain a spotless creamery and uphold all food safety plans, regulations, and third-party agreements. Her leadership, friendly demeanor, and dedication make her a joy to work alongside, inspiring the team while maintaining the smooth flow of the creamery. Alexis takes pride in upholding the family’s tradition of handcrafted excellence, helping carry forward Goot Essa’s legacy one wheel at a time.

Amber

Assistant Cheesemaker

Amber approaches her role as assistant cheesemaker with enthusiasm, dedication, and a genuine love for her craft. She helps transform fresh milk into the handcrafted cheeses our customers love, carefully tending each wheel as it ages. Her daily work includes the essential tasks of turning, cleaning, and washing the cheeses—ensuring every batch develops its best flavor and texture. Hardworking and uplifting, Amber brings positivity to every room she walks into. She’s an integral part of a team that works beautifully together—each member relying on the other to keep Goot Essa moving forward. With her friendly spirit and strong work ethic, Amber is truly a pleasure to work with and be around.

Melissa Yarrison

Assistant Cheesemaker

Melissa brings both focus and dedication to her work as assistant cheesemaker at Goot Essa. Each day she helps transform fresh milk into the handcrafted cheeses our customers enjoy, from carefully stirring curds to tending the wheels as they age. Her responsibilities also include keeping the creamery spotless and washing the cheeses, vital tasks that ensure every wheel develops its best flavor and texture. Melissa’s friendly demeanor and kindness make her a joy to work with, while her direct approach and hard-working nature keep the creamery running smoothly.

Clarita Kauffman

Assistant Cheesemaker

Working alongside our lead cheesemaker, Klarita brings both energy and dedication to the art of transforming fresh milk into fine artisan cheese. Her responsibilities range from carefully stirring curds and tending wheels in the aging cave, to keeping the creamery spotless and hand turning the wheels as they age. Klarita's friendly personality and ready smile create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, uplifting both customers and coworkers every day.

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.

Mahlon and Sadie Mae Esh

On their peaceful farm just down the lane from Goot Essa, Mahlon and Sadie Mae Esh care for a thriving herd of 55 dairy cows, whose milk provides the foundation for all of Goot Essa’s cow milk cheeses. Each cow is raised with thoughtful attention—fed a balanced diet, given room to rest on soft mattresses, and kept cool with sprinklers during the warm summer months. Every animal is treated as an individual and cared for with genuine affection.Farming is truly a family effort for the Eshes. Their four children are active helpers, pitching in with chores and learning the rhythms of farm life from an early age. As a nephew of Goot Essa owner John Esh, Mahlon carries forward both the family connection and the shared commitment to excellence in farming. The partnership between the Esh family and Goot Essa reflects one of the company’s guiding principles—to keep families on the farm, working together to preserve a way of life rooted in faith, stewardship, and care for the land and animals.

Sam and Sadie Mae King

Sam and Sadie Mae King, along with their two children, are the dedicated caretakers of the sheep whose high -quality milk helps create Goot Essa’s award-winning sheep milk cheeses. Based in Aaronsburg, PA, they currently care for a herd of 60 sheep, with plans to expand in the coming year. Their careful attention ensures the animals are healthy, happy, and producing the quality milk that makes our cheeses so distinctive. Sadie, the daughter of Goot Essa owners John and Anna Mary Esh, carries forward the family tradition of farm stewardship, while Sam’s expertise and steady hands keep operations running smoothly. Supporting family farms has long been one of Goot Essa’s core goals, and through their work, Sam and Sadie help keep that tradition alive—connecting the farm to the creamery and preserving the artisanal quality and authentic flavors that define GootEssa’s sheep milk cheeses.

Henry and Rhoda Wengerd

Tucked into the quiet countryside near Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Henry and Rhoda Wengerd tend a lively herd of 60 goats whose milk becomes the foundation for Goot Essa’s celebrated goat milk cheeses. Farming is truly a family affair for the Wengerds—their five children are active helpers, pitching in with feeding, milking, and caring for the animals before and after school. Henry and Rhoda find deep satisfaction in caring well for their herd, believing that healthy, content animals are the secret to exceptional milk. The result is rich, flavorful milk that reflects both the land they farm and the family who tends it. The Wengerds’ partnership with Goot Essa reflects a shared commitment to keeping families on the farm, preserving rural traditions, and crafting food that tells a story of dedication, hard work, and simple joys.