Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Falk.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve long been interested in the way our agricultural and food systems play a role in environmental and social issues. I started my career as an environmental lawyer, and after many detours along the way, I moved into specialty food in 2013. I started working in a cheese shop more or less on a whim, thinking it might be fun to learn more about cheese – and then, I got hooked. The art, science, and history behind this amazing food are all fascinating. While working in retail at another shop, I started volunteering with the Massachusetts Cheese Guild, and that gave me the opportunity to see things from the dairy farmers’ and cheesemakers’ perspective. I wanted to share what I’d learned with as many people as possible, and when I discovered Mill No. 5 in Lowell, I found a community of fellow food lovers who are also deeply interested in sustainable agriculture and food stories. I opened a tiny shop there in September 2016 as a sort of experiment, and it took off. Now, I have a business in a growing, diverse city where I can share what I learn from my “cheese family” around the world.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s been a long and winding road. 😉 I faced a lot of small but frustrating obstacles when I was practicing law; as a young woman, I had to deal with the fact that some of my older male colleagues simply weren’t inclined to take me seriously. That made me dig in my heels and resolve to power through on my own, and now, I wish I’d realized that asking for help – especially from other, more experienced women – is not a sign of weakness. Good leaders know what they need to learn, and no one can do everything alone.
My primary advice for young women is this: take the time to find at least one strong mentor you can trust. It helps immeasurably to have someone who can be a sounding board for your ideas and can help you work through challenges. That mentor doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who works in your field; any smart person who’s willing to carefully listen to you can help. And let that person challenge you so that you learn how to fight for your ideas. Your voice matters.
We’d love to hear more about Mill City Cheesemongers.
There are lots of places to find interesting, good quality food these days. My goal at Mill City Cheesemongers is not just to sell good cheese and wine, but to bring our customers into a community of people who really care about the stories behind their food and want to learn more about it. Our shop is as much about the experience you have as the food you buy, and I hope that people will leave feeling as if they’ve learned something new and interesting every time they visit. No one who comes in to ask questions or taste cheese is ever wasting our time, even if they leave without buying anything.
We started out focusing primarily on locally produced cheese, and have now expanded to cheese from all over the world, but never from an “anonymous” industrial source. We work with small-scale cheesemakers whom we know and trust. We visit farms; we see the animals; we learn as much as we can about farms and facilities before we bring in a product. We source our cheese from makers who prioritize sustainable agriculture, animal welfare, and community. People have been making and eating cheese for thousands of years, and the cheese that comes from a small farm is always better than the cheese that comes from a factory. We want to remind our customers that their food dollars can be part of a system that feeds us all and enriches our environment and our culture. Someone has worked really hard to grow and prepare the food on your table. I want everyone to appreciate that.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
I have always had strong women around me. I am the only child of a single mother (we lost my father to cancer far too early), and I grew up watching my mom do whatever we needed – it never occurred to me that anything had to be a “man’s job.” I went to a single-sex high school and a women’s college (Bryn Mawr), and those schools reinforced my confidence and my trust in other women and gave me the chance to be heard in classrooms and leadership roles. Because of that, I was sometimes surprised when I encountered male colleagues who interrupted me or dismissed some of my ideas, but I wasn’t covered by them.
Now, at mid-life, I firmly believe this: people who have faced the same kinds of challenges ought to have each others’ backs. You don’t have to give things away, but when you support a friend or colleague or even an adversary, your good work comes back to you. Build a wall, and you miss learning a lot.
Contact Info:
- Address: Mill City Cheesemongers
Mill No. 5
250 Jackson Street
Lowell, MA 01852 - Website: www.millcitycheese.com
- Phone: 978.364.0229
- Email: beth@millcitycheese.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/millcitycheesemongers
- Facebook: facebook.com/millcitycheesemongers
Image Credit:
Ellen Mary Cronin/Cheesemonger Invitational, Mill City Cheesemongers
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
