No matter how small, local, organic or “family” a farm may be, the truth is that all dairy farming is based on reproductive violation and servitude. All dairy farming invades and exploits the mothering relationships of other animals in order to facilitate the theft of their maternal lactations: baby food specifically created for the young of another species. All dairy farming treats reproductive systems and motherhood as property and commodities. There is no humane or ethical way to treat bodies and wombs as property. Dairy farming is also a leading driver of ecosystem and climate destruction.
While humans have no nutritional need for dairy products since we are not baby cows, goats, or sheep, there are tons of delicious plant-based dairy alternatives that will please even the most diehard dairyheads!
Here are some of our favorites and, for those in the Asheville area, where to find them locally.
CHEESE
Violife:
One of our favorite plant-based cheeses, Violife is incredibly dairy-like, and is sold in blocks, slices, wedges, and our favorite plant-based shreds on the market! Find Violife at some Ingles, Publix, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, West Village Market and more.
Nuts for Cheese
From farm to fermentation, Nuts for Cheese‘s decadent, 100% dairy-free plant-based cheeses are handcrafted and aged to perfection to offer an artisan touch that’s a cut (well, slice) above the rest. Meltable, shreddable, sliceable, and spreadable, these cheeses are made from organic cashews sourced from wild, naturalized farmsteads; no fertilizers or pesticides. Nuts for Cheese makes some of the most delicious plant-based cheeses we’ve had, and can be found locally at Earth Fare, West Village Market, French Broad Co-op, Hendersonville Community Co-op, and occasionally (at a deep discount) at Hopey & Co.
Chao Cheese
Coconut-based and seasoned with fermented tofu, Chao take dairy-free indulgence to the next level. Don’t be put off by the fancy flavor names: The Tomato Cayenne tastes like a mildly spicy (and mouth-watering) cheddar, and the the Creamy Original tastes like a creamy mozzarella or provolone. They also offer Smoked Original and Spicy Original slices, as well as Mexican Style Blend shreds and Creamy Original shreds. Find Chao cheeses at some Ingles, Publix, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, West Village Market, and occasionally (at a deep discount) at Hopey & Co and more.
Follow Your Heart
Follow Your Heart offers several flavors of block and slice cheeses, including American, provolone, mozzarella, garden herb, smoked gouda, pepper jack, and cheddar that are coconut and potato based. Their soy-free slices are so good you can eat them straight out of the package, on crackers or sandwiches, or melted on a veggie burger or quesadilla. Find Follow Your Heart products at some Ingles, Food Lion, Publix, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, West Village Market and more.
MILK
Silk
Commonly found in grocery stores across the United States, Silk offers a solid selection of almond, oat, soy, coconut, and cashew milks. They offer organic, unsweet, and different flavor variations of their trusted milks such as vanilla blends and whole fat variations. When it comes to satisfying chocolate milk lovers, their dark chocolate almond milk is the way to go. Silk milk is great paired with a bowl of cereal, blended in a smoothie, or drank by the glass. Find Silk products at Ingles, Food Lion, Publix, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, West Village Market and more.
Elmhurst Farms
A winner in the arena when it comes to nut milks, Elmhurst was started by an unlikely candidate: Henry Schwartz, whose family had been in the dairy business for generations and ran Elmhurst Dairy since 1925. He left animal milk behind and teamed up with a famous plant food scientist to create creamy, delicious, and nutrient-dense dairy-free milk. They are made with only a handful of ingredients and offered sweetened and unsweetened varieties of oat, cashew, walnut, and hazelnut milk. Elmhurst milks can be found at Trader Joe’s, West Village Market, Earth Fare, and Whole Foods.
So Delicious
So Delicious offers coconut milk that is known for its smooth and creamy consistency. They’re perfect for smoothies, overnight oats, banking, and more. Find So Delicious products at Ingles, Food Lion, Publix, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, West Village Market and more.
Califa Farms
Califa Farms brings options to the table with their smooth barista blends, creamers, plant milks, and seasonal creamy creations. Their everyday plant milks are offered in oat, coconut, and almond varieties. These milks can be enjoyed with a bowl of cereal, blended in a smoothie, paired with coffee or drank by the glass, as they have enough flavor to stand on their own. Find Califa products at Ingles, Food Lion, Publix, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, West Village Market and more.
Oatly
Oatly‘s dairy-free milks are made from fresh, 100% gluten-free oats and are enriched with calcium. Oatly milks have a thick and creamy texture and can be used for anything that you use milk for, including cooking and baking. Aside from their “Original” flavor, they offer a rich chocolate milk and a “Barista” milk that is isn’t overly sweet or excessively heavy, perfect for any specialty drink or as a sidekick to coffee. Find Oatly products at Publix, Earth Fare, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, West Village Market and more.
Asheville Dairy 