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Stories: Estrella Family Creamery

The FDA ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash. to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses in 2010. These photos were made for the NY Times on November 4, 2010. The story can be found here. (photos credit Karen Ducey) 

  • A cow named Demon heads to the barn after grazing in the pasture at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  Every cow has a name on the farm. The FDA  ordered the Estrella Family Creamery to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses in 2010.  These photos were made for the New York Times on November 4, 2010.  The story can be found here.  (photos credit Karen Ducey)
  • {quote}Help me out. Don't just try and kill me.{quote} specialty cheesemaker Kelli Estrella  says of her frustration in dealing with the the Food and Drug Administration at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.   The FDA  ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Estrella sisters Melody, 12, (left) and Ruth, 20, carry fresh cream towards the house to make butter at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Ernest Estrella, 16, herds cattle from the pasture to the barn to get milked at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • {quote}Help me out. Don't just try and kill me.{quote} artisan cheesemaker Kelli Estrella  says about her frustration dealing with the the Food and Drug Administration at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.   The FDA  ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheese makers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • No trespassing signs were taped to the doors on all caves storing cheese at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Melody Estrella, 12, feeds milk to Eva, a one day old calf, three times a day at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Kelli Estrella closes a gate at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  {quote}I'd like to get back up and get going again.{quote} she says regarding the Food and Drug Administration ordering them to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Faith Estrella, 11 rides a cow named Lover into the barn as it comes in from pasture at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  Every cow has a name on the farm.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • A cow named Lovey (CQ) is being milked at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  Every cow has a name on the farm. The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Ruth Estrella, 20, begins the process of making butter for her families' consumption at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • One of their specialty cheeses is passed around the table during lunchtime at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash. on November 4, 2010.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Faith Estrella, 11, plays on a cow named Lover at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  Every cow has a name on the farm.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Eva, a one day old calf, follows Faith Estrella, 11, at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano, Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  The family owns 30-35 cows and each one has a name. The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
  • Faith Estrella, 11, takes a bite out of one the speciality cheeses at the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  on November 4, 2010.  The Food and Drug Administration ordered the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano,Wash.  to stop processing cheeses after it found listeria bacteria on some of the cheeses this year.  The family says they have made many renovations on the farm and the bacteria is only found on the soft cheese, not everything.  They believe they should be allowed to resume making cheese and sell the hard cheeses they have already made at the facility.  The creamery is one of Washington’s most famous artisan cheesemakers.  (photo credit Karen Ducey)
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