Quark is a fresh, soft cheese that originated Eastern Europe.  It is similar to cream cheese but is lower in fat and has a little more flavor.  Quark is popular in Germany, where it is often eaten like yogurt, in a sweetened, single serving container flavored with fruit.  This versatile cheese can also be eaten savory, flavored with herbs or spices.  Cheese cake is also a great use for Quark.

The Coop recently began carrying Quark from Iowa’s Milton Creamery.  These are the same folks who make the fabulous Prairie Breeze Cheddar; the Coop’s top selling artisan cheese and the first place winner in its category at the 2009 American Cheese Society competition.  Milton Creamery’s milk comes from Amish dairy farms, which practice extensive pasture grazing, which yields herby, fresh, grassy tasting milk and makes great tasting cheese. 

Here in the Coop’s Cheese Department, we are selling Milton Creamery’s Quark by itself, but are really excited about our “Fruit Quark.”  Fruit Quark is a combination of Quark, fresh, organic berries, and Minnesota honey.  It can be eaten by itself, or spread on bread, crackers, crepes, pancakes, or pretty much anything else you can think of.  It is a creamy, sweet, wonderful tasting treat.