Our Story
In 1973, on a small family farm in Ithaca, NY, we crafted our first batches of yogurt from the milk of a pretty, brown Jersey cow named Lily.

Since then, we've grown quite a bit. And we've moved to California. But we still make our Cream Top yogurt from the extra rich, creamy milk of Jersey cows. We still use only natural ingredients and milk produced without the use of artificial growth hormones. And we still lovingly handcraft our yogurt in small batches to produce the same fresh-from-the-farm taste our first fans fell in love with so long ago.

Strolling Down Memory Lane

1973
Two self proclaimed "hippies" embraced the then popular idea of homesteading, and bought a Brown Jersey Cow named Lily to provide the family with milk. Soon, Lily's owners were turning her milk into yogurt and found they had enough to share. In fact, they had quite a lot!

1975
They began selling their yogurt, in the two original flavors of plain and maple, at farmstands and food co-ops - modestly packaged in styrofoam cups with lids and with labels that were handstamped on masking tape - Brown Cow Yogurt was born.

1984
With Brown Cow yogurt being so popular, the folks in Ithaca shared their delicious recipe so that it could be made in California and serve the West Coast, too. The yogurt was created in a small plant in Petaluma, California.

1989
The Ford family bought Brown Cow Farm and moved it from Petaluma to the former Honey Hill frozen yogurt plant in Antioch, California.

1992
Brown Cow began offering yogurt lovers a nonfat variety for the first time.

1997
Lowfat Brown Cow yogurt was added to the family of Brown Cow products.

2003
By this time, Brown Cow yogurt had become the top-selling, all-natural brand of yogurt in the country. The Fords sold the company to Stonyfield Farm, which pledged to maintain Brown Cow's reputation for top-quality, all-natural yogurt.

2004
Brown Cow yogurt took to the road, offering yogurt samples at all kinds of community events and festivals on the West Coast.

2005
Brown Cow created lowfat smoothies for the first time.

2006

• Fruit & Whole Grains was added to the growing list of Brown Cow yogurt varieties.
  
  
• Brown Cow and mascot Lily got makeovers this year, with brand new packaging and a new logo.

2007

• Keeping up with appearances, the Brown Cow website got a makeover, too, and a new advertising campaign was launched.

• Brown Cow increased its production capacity to keep up with the growing demand for its yogurt and smoothies.