Back Forty Artisan Cheese, is a small creamery, cheese shop and riverside bistro located in Mississippi Station and was revitalized by Jeff and Jenna Fenwick when they relocated in 2012.

Together, they transformed a modest creamery into an acclaimed cheese-making facility where Jeff hand crafts all the raw sheep’s milk cheese. They blend traditional old-world cheese-making methods with a unique farm-to-table experience, in the riverside bistro and cheese shop. The bistro is nestled along the river, in a picturesque setting, offering an exceptional menu of the farm’s seasonal organic meat and produce, with the licensed patio featuring Ontario craft beverages.

Their journey with Frontenac Business Services began in 2015, with financial and advisory support for their business expansion in North Frontenac. This partnership was instrumental in the creation of their state-of-the-art facility, allowing the enhanced production of raw ewe’s milk cheese.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Back Forty shifted to direct sales, demonstrating their keen sense of resilience and innovation. The support from Frontenac Business Services through business insight, networking, financial support in addition to navigating challenges has been influential for them to seize various growth opportunities.

Jeff and Jenna have demonstrated their ability to adapt and to also create a keen sense of community through their successful Curds & Cooks annual summer festival, and their farm-to-table events featuring various local chefs offering their organic products. Back Forty Artisan Cheese is a clear expression of the positive impact of passion, collaboration, and supportive nurturing of a rural business.