Genuine mountain farm butter - if you have ever tasted it then you know the difference. 

Since old times the farms in the Valdres region base their production of Butter and cheese on the rich grazings grounds of the summer mountain farms. And since old times the alpine dairymaids have known that the butter up here has an exceptional taste. This is because of the high quality of the mountain grasses and because the fresh mountain air is good for dairy processing. Not only has mountain farm butter a unique taste, colour and quality but it also holds the cultural history of people, animals and nature working together. In order to call it mountain farm butter at least 70% of the cows' diet has to be harvested from the grazing grounds in the mountains.

Newer science has confirmed what the alpine dairymaids have known all along; the amount of daylight and the fresh temperatures impact the grass vegetation, resulting in the special qualities of the mountain farm milk. The butter has a higher level of omega 3, antioxidants and beta carotene, making it richer in taste and colour (Hanne Sickel: 2014).

Hand craft

To churn butter is a hand craft. Warm, fresh milk is strained and the cream is set to ferment. Then the sour cream is churned by hand until the milk fat seperates into lumps. These are then wahed and knead until all fluids are removed and the butter has obtained the desired, creamy smooth concistency. It is salted, packed and stored cool to maintain its quality.

Mountain farm butter is highly sought after, and today's dairymaids run fast out of stock for this exclusive produce. 

Valdres is the region with most actively run summer mountain farms in all of Northern Europe. Several of them churn butter regularly over the course of summer. It is sold either directly off the farm or through small outlets for local produce throughout Valdres.

In 2019 summer fram butter was awarded the protected label for unique traditions through Stiftelsen Norsk Mat.

Why protecting summer farm butter?

Summer farm butter is a unique food product that in addition is connected with a number of extra values. Extensive mountain farming is a sustainable harvesting culture. The animals graze freely on the mountain pastures, keep the landscape open and contribute to an increased biodiversity. Maybe this is the reason for people considering the term mountain farm to have a positive meaning? And why many products aim to be associated with summer farming? 

You can find many "mountain farm this and that" products in the super marked shelves which have no connection to mountain farming. Awarding our summer farm butter a protected label enables the consumer to be certain of its genuine origin - hand made in the traditional way without any additives other than salt. 

Certified producers

In Norway, you can find proud carriers of this special label in the regions of Valdres, Telemark, Trøndelag, Voss, Innerdalen in Møre og Romsdal, Gudbrandsdalen and in Nordre Land.

In Valdres it is possible to get hold of mountain fram butter during the summer season from the following farms:

Sparstadstølen i Sanddalen
Strandmo Stølsysteri
Sygarden i Hålien