Allison Hooper

Allison Hooper was one of the first artisan cheesemakers in the United States. Hooper and her business partner Bob Reese co-founded Vermont Butter & Cheese Company in 1984 and started bringing the everyday cheese and dairy delicacies of France to the American table. As president of the American Cheese Society from 2005 to 2008, Hooper has been a voice for and mentor to U.S. cheesemakers. Today Vermont Creamery creations have won more than 100 awards nationally and internationally over the past 29 years including the US Small Business Administration “Small Business of the Year” for Vermont in 1996. When Allison is not selling or teaching about cheese coast to coast, helping with milking at the farm, or entertaining food bloggers, she can be seen riding her bike to work or on Vermont roads with her husband, Don.  They enjoy gardening, haying, raising a few steers, and general dubbing on their 62 acre hill farm in Brookfield.  They have three sons: Miles, Sam, and Jay.