#153 Getting Vodka from a Cow - Tessa Koch, TMK Creamery

Meaningful Marketplace Podcast

As we continue to look back and interview previous guests to learn how they are doing currently, our host Sarah Marshall talks with Tessa Koch of TMK Creamery. Our first interview with Tessa was November 20, 2019 (episode #6). They had just released their first dairy alcohol product, Cowcohol Vodka. And then the lockdown hit. The facility that was going to do their distilling suddenly had to switch all production to hand sanitizer and the big pivot was on. Tessa and her husband began to construct their own distillery and obviously learn HOW to distill alcohol. But not just figure out the final product, but also how to use the curds for new food products, purify the water and recycle it to the cows and turn the whole operation into a zero-waste production. The operation also is a closed system. TMK uses only the milk from the Cowlebrities (that’s right, new word invented by them) they own, no outside milk purchased. And in keeping with their complete transparency policy, they are very open to the public, encouraging visitations and offering tours. Of course, COVID and the lockdown threw a wrench into that model. At first, the numbers of visitors needed to be limited, but being an outdoor facility helped the company comply with protocol and still be able to allow the public access to their production process and beautiful acreage. The husband/wife team is very focused on educating children about the wholesome dairy business and will have 2,000 – 3,000 young people visit their farm every summer. The food and beverage operations are behind glass for health reasons, but the Cowlebrities and Junior Cowlebrities are in open barns and available to walk up to them and pet or feed them, or both! There also is a food truck with all their food items plus ice cream and ice cream treats and cocktails from their distilled beverages. So once more, entrepreneurs figure it out because they have a goal and a vision and the determination to get there. COVID pulled the rug out from under TMK’s plans by first taking away their distiller and then cutting down on their agritourism visitors. So Tessa and husband dug in, built their own distillery, managed their visitors and have come out with a unique and popular business educating and entertaining many. The tagline on their website at https://tmkcreamery.com/ says it all: Real Farm. Real Food. It all starts on the farm. Follow them at: FB and IG TMKcreamery and YouTube TMKcreamery. Our hosts: Twitter - @sarahmasoni and @spicymarshall, Instagram - @masoniandmarshall.

Thank you for Listening to The Meaningful Marketplace Podcast with your hosts, Sarah Masoni of Oregon State University's Food Innovation Center and Sarah Marshall, owner of Marshall's Haute Sauce. Connect with us on Instagram @meaningfulmarketplacepodcast.

Audio engineer, mixer, and podcast editor: Haley Bowers
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Production Coordinator: Kayleen Veatch