Iluta Straģe - Piena aitas bio

Did you know that the first dairy sheep in Latvia were brought to Brunava?  

Iluta Straģe, the owner of the brand "Piena aitas", knew as a child that animals and nature were her calling, and as time has passed, her dream has come true. Iluta has managed to create a green oasis in the middle of the vast Zemgale countryside, basing her economic activities on the principles of organic farming and grassland management, including extensive management of the natural grasslands along the river Mēmele. 

Natural grasslands are a rarity in Zemgale and Iluta is proud to have preserved this natural asset. But all this would not have been possible without the grasslands' hard-working caretakers - the sheep. Iluta started a branch of sheep farming that is atypical in Latvia - dairy sheep farming and product production. It all started with Hansel and Gretel, a pair of sheep from Estonia, and today Iluta has a large flock of Osfriesian dairy sheep and a wide range of products.

On the farm, sheep's milk is used to make ice cream, yoghurt, desserts, fresh cheese and aged hard cheese. Iluta also makes caraway cheese from sheep's milk, a product that was previously unavailable in Latvia.  

The farm produces more than just edible items - in collaboration with natural cosmetics manufacturer "GUSTO", sheep fat is used to make a full-body cream, which has already received many positive reviews. Iluta also produces sheep fat soap with soothing and healing properties. Sheepskin and sheep wool are also produced. Visitors are offered the opportunity to learn about sheep farming and production on a guided tour and to taste the delicacies produced. 

In 2022, Iluta's created Lobgale Manor aged cheese, was awarded a gold medal in the "Novada Garša" product quality competition. Iluta has also received an honourable mention from the Bauska Municipality - "Bauska Municipality Home Producer of the Year 2021".

Iluta is constantly on the move. In addition to working on the farm and raising her five children, she goes to markets with her own produce, attends trainings and actively participates in the activities of the Bauska Rural Women's Club "Apvārsnis".

Where to buy?

The produce is available in the e-shop: https://www.pienaaitasbio.lv/ ; at markets in Kurzeme and at the Bauska "Bauze" market (you can find out about the markets by following @pienaaitas on social media platforms IG and FB), as well as at Rimi Klēts (Pulkveža Brieža, Alfa, Spice, Sāga, Kr. Voldemāra), Berģu Depo, Livin, Ķocis, Gastronoms, Zaļā Zeme, Idille, Āgenskalna tirgus, ''Lepšas'' in Bauska.