Vermont Cheesemaker Loses Nearly $1 Million in Sales Due to Canada Tariffs
Vermont-based Jasper Hill Farm reports that U.S.-Canada tariffs have cost the company nearly $1 million in lost export sales to Canada. Rising domestic costs are also impacting the business.
Jasper Hill Farm, a Vermont cheesemaker, states that the trade dispute between the United States and Canada has significantly impacted its export market. Co-founder and CEO Mateo Kehler estimates that tariffs have resulted in nearly $1 million in lost sales to Canada over the past 18 months.
This loss represents approximately 7% to 8% of the creamery's annual sales. The situation arose after the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on many Canadian imports in February 2025, leading to retaliatory tariffs from Canada on U.S. goods. Kehler described 2025 as the company's worst year to date.
While Jasper Hill's overall business has improved this year, sales to Canada have not yet recovered. Founded in 2003 by brothers Mateo and Andy Kehler, the company produces 14 varieties of artisan cheese, including the award-winning Bayley Hazen Blue.
The company's business model focuses on high-value artisan cheese, which allows them to pay partner dairy farms significantly more than commodity markets. Jasper Hill operates two creameries in rural Vermont, one of which includes an underground aging facility.