Clover Stornetta Farms, a third-generation family owned and operated California dairy, is celebrating 100 years in the business of making delicious, nutritious, all-natural and organic dairy products.
In celebration of its centennial anniversary, Clover is introducing its newest dairy delicacy - an Organic Greek Yogurt line to add to a palate of over 175 dairy products ranging from natural and organic milks to butter, cheese, craft ice cream, and more.
Clover has had a long legacy working with local farms in Northern California for 100 years starting in 1916 when The Petaluma Cooperative Creamery began distributing Clover Brand dairy products to stores and customers in the Petaluma, CA area. As Petaluma and the rest of Sonoma and Marin counties continued to grow, so did the Co-op. Originally founded by Gene M. Benedetti, Clover is now a third generation, family owned and operated business with grandson Marcus Benedetti at the helm as CEO. More than eight years ago, Marcus Benedetti helped expand the business beyond Northern California, selling into Southern California specialty markets without sacrificing Clover quality.
"What sets us apart from other dairy producers is our innovative approach to the dairy business," said Clover President & CEO Marcus Benedetti. "We were the first dairy processor to elevate milk from a commodity to a specialty food by establishing the North Coast Excellence Certified (NCEC) program - setting some of the most rigorous standards in the dairy industry which surpass those of the state and federal governments. We were the first dairy to become American Humane Certified, said no to the synthetic growth hormone rSBT, and made an early entrance to provide and support organic dairy products."
As part of this standard of excellence, Clover cows are raised on small, local family-owned farms that follow sustainable agriculture practices and tend small herds on spacious ranches, where the cows are well-treated and healthy. Clover farms are also American Humane Certified and must demonstrate environmental consciousness and stewardship of land. Clover milk is not from cloned cows and annual averages of bacteria counts meet National Centers for Environmental Prediction's (NCEP) set standards.
100 Years of Clover
Clover Stornetta Farm's founder Gene M. Benedetti's legacy lives on in the second and third generation of family members and employees who follow in his footsteps at Clover, along with Clover's famous mascot Clo The Cow - one of Gene's most loved creations. A World War II veteran who lived through the invasion of Normandy on D-day, Gene returned home to Petaluma, CA to found what is now one of the most respected dairy processors in the country, and became a pillar of his community, known for his generosity to those less fortunate. Clover strives to live up to the high standards of excellence he established all those many years ago.
Clover Brand dairy products began showing up in nearly every store and household in Marin and Sonoma counties. In 1969, Clo the Cow first appeared as the official mascot for Clover Brand products and has graced billboards in northern California ever since with her magnificent smile and witty puns. In 1991, Clover opened its new state-of-the-art milk processing facility at the Petaluma location. Over the years, more renovations to the processing facility not only focused on quality, but on doing things "greener." Clover believes that being a sustainable business is the only way to do business, and has done just that for three generations.
Clover Goes Greek
In celebration of its centennial anniversary, Clover is launching its new line of Organic Greek Yogurt made with Clover Organic Nonfat Milk and premium organic fruit. It is rich in protein, calcium, and contains five live cultures making for a delicious and healthy snack. It is authentically strained to create an extra smooth, creamy texture. The new line's flavors are fruit-forward, meaning organic fruit is second on the ingredient list behind Clover Organic Nonfat Milk. Clover Organic Greek Yogurt is made with Clover organic milk from happy, humane-certified Clover cows living on family-owned dairy farms that are USDA Organic Certified and Non-GMO Project Verified.
"As we look to grow and attract new consumers, we look to different markets. We've seen Greek growing in the yogurt space for quite some time now and it is steadfast," said Benedetti. "The quality of our organic milk, combined with the authentic nature in which our new Greek yogurt is made, will give us a strong entry into this arena."
By sourcing premium organic fruit and adding lots of it, Clover Organic Greek Yogurt fruit varieties are bursting with flavor. The yogurt line includes six new flavors - blueberry, strawberry, peach, black cherry, vanilla, and plain - in a 5.3 ounce (individual serving size) and is sold in local independent grocers, Whole Foods Market, and Safeway Inc. Plain and vanilla flavors are also featured in a 32 ounce family size. Some of the tantalizing taste notes include:
Blueberry: Sweet and tangy come together in this classic flavor that combines the floral, jammy notes of organic blueberries and elderberry.
Strawberry: Reminiscent of summer at its peak, the Strawberry Greek Yogurt is like dipping a spoon into a ripe, juicy patch of organic strawberries.
Peach: Savor the fresh-picked essence of sweet, sun-kissed organic peaches plucked from the tree. It's a creamy treat that's just plain peachy.
Black Cherry: Get ready to fall in love with this burst of flavorful tart organic cherries and subtle floral notes of cassis and fresh-baked pie.
Vanilla: America's favorite flavor just got better - blending aromatic vanilla bean with a creamy, rich yogurt that's perfect for breakfast, a healthy snack, or a nutritious smoothie.
Plain: Crafted with the perfect balance of creaminess and tang, the Plain Greek Yogurt is anything but plain. With a luxurious mouth-feel and texture, it is perfect in its pure form or used to enhance other foods.
