Dairy Specializes In Nutrient-Rich Yogurt

Dairy Specializes In Nutrient-Rich Yogurt A Tioga County, Pa., dairy aims to help customers rediscover a love for dairy and small American farms. “Painterland Sisters was born out of both necessity and purpose,” says Julieta Virgili, company representative. “Growing up on a fourth-generation, regenerative, organic dairy farm, sisters Stephanie and Hayley Painter saw firsthand how volatile milk prices threatened their family’s livelihood and the future of small American farms.” The sisters left home for college but soon discovered just how special their farm was and returned to run the 400-cow dairy operation. In 2022, they began making yogurt. All Painterland Sisters yogurt comes from USDA-certified organic milk, almost entirely from their own cows. “The secret to our extra creamy, defiantly dreamy yogurt is a process called ultra-filtration,” Virgili says. “Many brands use harsh processing and fill in the nutrition gaps with protein powders. In contrast, we gently heat and minimally process the milk to keep proteins and nutrients intact. This creates an all-natural, extra-creamy yogurt packed with up to 21g of protein per serving.” It’s also lactose-free, loaded with probiotics, and free of gums and artificial sweeteners. Even so, Virgili shares that yogurt can be a tough sell for some customers. “It’s a big challenge to shift perceptions around dairy. With the rise of plant-based alternatives and dietary restrictions, dairy products are often misunderstood. Education is key. When consumers understand our Skyr yogurt is lactose-free, nutrient-rich and sustainably produced, they’re eager to try it.” Painterland Sisters quickly became a national brand. Within 18 mos. of operation, they had retail sales in 47 of the lower 48 states. “On the operations side, scaling a values-driven brand has meant staying deeply committed to local sourcing, sustainability and transparency, even as distribution and demand grow,” Virgili says. “Not easy.” Looking forward, the company aims to expand its reach while staying true to its roots. “We plan to grow our presence in grocery stores across the country while innovating with nutritious, sustainable products,” Virgili says. But the vision goes beyond profitability. “We’re on a mission to revitalize rural America through regenerative farming. We’ll continue investing in community engagement, from school visits to food transparency initiatives, to inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs in agriculture.” The company was a recent recipient of the Dairy Marketing & Branding Services Grant, which awarded $46,000 to collaborate with a digital agency to develop a new e-commerce site aimed at growing sales, increasing brand loyalty, and improving demand for Northeast organic dairy. “Painterland Sisters is more than a yogurt brand; it’s a movement to change the food system and connect consumers with the roots of their food—the American farmer,” Virgili says. “Every cup supports over two dozen local organic farms. We’re proving that powerful change can start on one farm and ripple across the country. We’ve set out to make dairy cool, one spoonful at a time.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Painterland Sisters Yogurt, 530 Howland Hill Rd., Westfield, Pa. 16590 (ph 814-367-3674; hello@painterlandsisters.com; www.painterlandsisters.com).

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