PICTON — Ontario’s newest cheese factory will begin production the third week of March, about three weeks behind schedule.

"We had trouble getting supplies," says Petra Cooper, the president of Fifth Line Artisan Cheese Company at Picton.

However, she and her cheese makers will process 400 litres of milk, produced by Capricorn View Farm, through the Black River Cheese factory the third week in February.

Her team needs some practice before it goes into full production in March, she says.

Peak output in the first months will top out at 10,000 litres of goats’ milk and 2,500 litres of sheep milk, but the March total will be between 7,000 and 8,000 litres.

She has five people employed so far, including a truck driver, who will pull a 3,000 litre bulk tank. She needs two more employees.

Seven goat farms and a coterie of sheep farmers from around Stirling have been contracted to supply milk to the factory. She plans to expand her production next February and says she’ll be taking on a few more producers. Most goat producers selling to the factory milk between 150 and 250.

Toronto will be one market but she expects most of the cheese will be sold on site. The plant has been designed as environmentally green, and she describes the on-site outlet as "eco-culinary."

"We’re on the route to two wineries," she said. "My business is a natural extension." The 4,200 sq. ft. factory is near Picton in picturesque Prince Edward County, home to the popular Sand Banks Provincial Park.