Fermier
The French label for a cheese made on the farm from the farm's own animals' milk.
Also: fromage fermier, farm-made
Fermier, meaning farmer or farm-made, is a legally defined word on French cheese labels. A fromage fermier must be made by the farmer from milk from their own herd, on the farm, using traditional methods, and for protected cheeses the milk is often raw. It is the top of the French ladder that runs from fermier through artisanal, coopérative and laitier. Many AOP cheeses come in both fermier and laitier versions, and the fermier ones, such as Reblochon fermier with its green casein tab, Camembert fermier and Saint-Nectaire fermier, are often more varied and sought after. The English equivalent is farmhouse.