Clara Diez is an artisan cheese activist, with the mission to bring together a selection of excellent cheeses that buyers can be sure champion ethical practices, taking into consideration all elements that go into making it artisanal: from the livestock feeding methods, the handling and care in the production processes, to the commitment to generate a positive impact on the environment. Together with her husband she has founded Formaje, a ”temple of cheese” in her own words. In the video and below we asked Clara to tell us more about how she started working with cheese, being a woman in a male dominated industry, her connection to nature and much more.

”When I started working with cheese I was just 21 years old. Working with artisans from all over the world and selling their cheeses has become my way of life and a daily learning pathway. It keeps me connected to nature in my day-by-day.”

”When people ask me where it all comes from, I always tell them about my origins, about the place where I grew up and where my roots are. I was raised in the countryside where my family belongs. Being surrounded by nature was a constant when I was a child and I feel gifted because of it. I guess that’s why, in some way, I’ve always been connected to rural environments and its life and its activities.”

”There are definitely more men than women in cheese and until a few years ago it was quite an aged industry. So I think that one of the things that makes Formaje unique is the fact that it re-interprets a traditionally male industry from the eyes of a woman, bringing a new, more refined perspective on artisan cheese. A perspective that had never probably been explored before. I think that the amazing capacity we have as women, we are able to find new meanings and new perspectives. We are creators by nature.”

#womeninrodebjer is our virtual home to all the voices that inspire us and that would like to share their story, any story, with us. Thank you Clara for telling us your story!