Buy BC Ambassador Michael Tchao with Natural Pastures cheesemaker Paul Sutter and a wheel of cheese. Photo: Richard Maxton.
A thank you note:
Dear Buy BC Team and Chef Michael and everyone involved from farm to factory,
All the best — and a heartfelt thank you — for taking the time, energy and care to visit the Vancouver Island Water Buffalo farms, getting to know our team, ( some with 4 legs, some with 2) and crafting the wonderful videos about water-buffalo cheese. Your commitment to telling the story behind the milk and cheeses — from pasture to plate — means a great deal to us.
You’ve helped shine a spotlight on the hard work, dedication, and passion that goes into every wheel and wedge.
We’re deeply grateful for your effort, your respect for our farmers and cheesemakers, and your support in helping British Columbians appreciate what makes buffalo-milk cheese so special.
Thank you again, from all of us at Natural Pastures.
What was published? See below all the work that came together!
Why British Columbians Love Water Buffalo Cheese
We have a summery of the articles and videos but please check out all the content: it will assist you to understand the care and attention that goes into all our cheese.
Buy BC Website: Why British Columbians love water buffalo cheese so much
Buy BC Facebook sharing out the website post
Buy BC X Michael Tchao Instagram Carousel (behind the scenes)
Buy BC X Michael Tchao Instagram Reel
In British Columbia, farms such as Coleman Meadows Farm (Port Alberni) and McClintock Farm in Courtenay, raise water buffalo whose milk is rich, high in fat and low in cholesterol — ideal for cheesemaking. That milk travels to Natural Pastures Cheese Company in Courtenay, where skilled cheesemakers transform it into authentic cheeses like Mozzarella di Bufala, Bocconcini di Bufala, Buffalo Brie, and more.
Though water buffalo are newcomers to Canadian dairy — first arriving in 2000 — their global legacy and the ideal climate and forage on Vancouver Island make them well-suited to thrive here. The post underscores that cheesemaking at Natural Pastures combines artisanal tradition with modern precision: while state-of-the-art equipment supports consistency, much of the magic is in the hands-on expertise, from feeling the curd to judging texture by touch.
The article also places emphasis on the deeper meaning behind the cheese: it’s not just about dairy, but community, sustainability, and long-term commitment. Farms like Coleman Meadows are rooted in care for land, animals and people. Buy BC – Government of British Columbia In this way, water-buffalo cheese becomes a symbol of local agriculture’s cycle — where local forage nourishes animals, which yield milk that nourishes people, strengthening the entire community in the process. Buy BC – Government of British Columbia