The Painter sisters on their household’s Pennsylvania farm
Siblings Stephanie and Hayley Painter need to carry their fourth-generation family-run natural dairy to customers throughout the US with their not too long ago launched model aptly named, Painterland Sisters, that includes natural skyr-style yogurt.
Stephanie, a Millennial, and Hayley, a Gen Z, these two hope to vary up how farming is seen in America and assist bridge that hole between client and grower/maker. Having grown up in Pennsylvania on the 5000-acre household farm, they knew they needed a connection again to the land, however weren’t at all times clear on what that profession trajectory would love. Stephanie Painter, the older of the 2 sisters, says that she made a take care of her dad, “I advised him at 18, that I’d return to the farm in 10 years. And at 28, I got here again, and launched this firm with my sister.”
Youthful sister Hayley wasn’t too eager on farm life first both, however then realized its magnificence: “After I was youthful I took without any consideration the distinctive alternative I used to be born into. I couldn’t wait to go to school and expertise the unknown: to put on white footwear as an alternative of shoes, to increase my palate of recent meals and to have neighbors that weren’t my relations or cows,” she says.
Whereas the 2 could have pursued their passions in school, and tried their hand at different professions, they have been deeply related to the farming lifestyle, which was began by their grandfather George Painter who purchased a plot of land in 1941 after which his son, John Painter, started the dairy within the Fifties so as to add onto it.
“We each grew up on our household farm alongside our 13 cousins and really feel deeply related to the land and the animals. As farmers, we now have the chance to take management of our personal future by connecting instantly with customers,” says Stephanie.
Painterland Sister Natural Skyr Yogurt
The Painterland Sisters skyr yogurt is a thicker, creamier Icelandic-style natural yogurt that’s lactose-free, excessive in probiotics and excessive in protein, Stephanie explains. Produced in Pennsylvania, the skyr is made out of natural complete milk and sweetened naturally utilizing fruits and cane sugar, most of which comes from close by American farms. It’s made by one of many few, solely one in every of two, Icelandic-style yogurt makers in America, she clarifies. “He occurs to be close by right here.”
The Painterland farm grew to become licensed natural by the USDA in 2003. Their practices have been not simply natural, but in addition regenerative for years previous the certification, she explains. Now, they’re engaged on turning into licensed for regenerative as nicely. From chemical-free fertilizers and weed elimination to animals that graze freely on open pastures, “that is how we’ve been farming for years. And now we may give it a reputation, regenerative!” Stephanie says.
Their cows primarily feed off the pastures, however a small a part of their weight-reduction plan (about 10 p.c, she says) is supplemented with feed, salt, and minerals. The feed’s elements, she notes, comes from the farm itself.
Given the elevated curiosity in plant-based and different milks, Stephanie and Hayley argue that there’s nonetheless a possibility for dairy. “The yogurt we’re making is a nutrient-dense meals, a very good supply of fat, and is simple to digest even for everybody,” Haley says. All their yogurts embody natural lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose, making it extra gut-friendly even for these with dairy sensitivities. “Truthfully, we predict it could be nice if all yogurts and milk-based merchandise had lactase added to them,” she provides.
As newbies to entrepreneurship, the sisters have turned to buddies, distributors, and mentors to construct the model. They began with John F Martin, a fourth-generation native enterprise, to get their product into regional outlets. “They provide us an opportunity. They have been our first sale,” says Stephanie.
Then they grew into nationwide distributors. As of November, they’re now promoting in Sprouts throughout the nation. And because of Greenspoon, a seasoned meals and beverage dealer, they’ve been in a position to safe extra retail places on the East Coast and within the Midwest.
A number of sources have enabled them to fund this expensive enterprise: a enterprise mortgage, grants for farming, and bank cards. “We utilized for grants that create a value-add to the farm,” explains Hayley.
“Plus, we did what many entrepreneurs do. We maxed out our bank cards,” provides Stephanie.
In whole, they’ve gathered about $1 million in funding. However they really feel the chance is value it. “Dairy has gotten a nasty picture these days. However it’s not true for all dairy. The way in which we run our farm, it’s really useful for the setting, and it’s nutritious meals. Many greek yogurt corporations are including in protein powder to their mixes to present you that top stage of protein. We’re providing you with a pure natural product as an alternative,” she argues.
The farm, they are saying, will at all times be an extension of the model. “We simply stroll outdoors if we need to seize content material for our social media. It’s very a lot who we’re. That is the life-style we grew up in, the place our grandmother made us meals from the land day by day, and we spent our lives open air, strolling up and down hills.”
“Solely 2% of our nation is concerned in agriculture. I’m part of that 2% and I’m pleased with the life-style I used to be born into and am selecting to actively keep part of. It’s a healthful life,” provides Hayley.
Whereas their product could also be a bit pricier than rivals, they’re satisfied that Individuals who need to assist American farmers, and a wholesome way of life, will gravitate to their values and their startup.