FRAGA FARMSTEAD CREAMERY

That farm is Fraga Farmstead Creamery (Map It) in Gales Creek, which has been its location for 12 years. 

“Originally, I was looking at sheep. I grew up on a farm with sheep [in Germany] and my grandmother always said that the sheep got us through World War II.  The sheeps’ wool was used to make sweaters, and they drank the milk, so sheep were important to Lise. But an encounter with a sheep changed her mind about raising sheep on her Tualatin Valley farm.” 

“I was in the office, and this little goat scampered in and jumped up on the desk and kind of twirled around and ran back out. And I was just like, who was that? And they said that’s Lollipop and Lollipop apparently had the run of the farm. Sheep don’t do that. They just kind of stick with their group in a very instinctual way.”

“Goats are much more in tuned to people in the sense that they have.  [They’re] definitely smarter. They’re very curious. And just very enjoyable to be around.”

Fraga Farmstead Creamery not only sells goat milk and cheeses, they also have a whole line of body care, each made with goat milk, including lip balms, hand creams and their specialty, felted soaps. In addition to using the milk from their herd of goats, they primarily source Oregon-grown ingredients, such as Meadowfoam Seed Oil and Daikon radish seed extract, which are considered top-shelf cosmetic oils. “Tualatin Valley is such a beautiful valley, and it grows so many things. You can grow almost anything,” she mused”

Customers can visit the Gales Creek farm and pick up items from their farmstand. A visit to the farm is a whole experience. 

“I want this farm stand to be the kind of place that I would be super excited to find if I was on vacation. You get to meet the goats, and you get to meet the farmers, so it’s like a whole little adventure. And you can take some of it home.”