Amelia Creamery

We’ve all heard of frozen yogurt, Greek yogurt, and forms of non-dairy yogurt. But have you heard of French yogurt? If not, let us introduce you. 

Amelia Creamery is one of our vendors for Healthy Harvest and they are also at various other farmer’s markets. They produce amazing French-style yogurt from all-natural ingredients and provide it in ceramic clay jars, which is not something you see very often. 

The lovely people at Amelia Creamery agreed to chat with us about what makes their yogurt special and why the concept of Farm to Fork is so important. 

“We love partnering with Healthy Harvest and other Farmer’s Markets to be able to provide a delicious and locally-made yogurt. We have found that consumers are seeking not only healthy and local produce, but they also desire a variety of other local products including dairy options,” said Jenefier Wickham, general manager. “We’re so glad that we can meet this need with our natural and healthy yogurt.”

Jenefier explained what makes French yogurt different. 

“French-style yogurt is creamier in texture compared to Greek-style yogurt, which is thick and pasty and has a sour aftertaste. Greek yogurt has the whey protein strained off however we leave the whey protein in our yogurt and it gives it the creamier consistency (and its also good for gut digestion),” she said. “French-style yogurt also uses whole milk and cream (we buy locally). One thing that sets Amelia apart from the competition is the smooth, dessert-like aftertaste.  It isn’t sour or tart like most commercial yogurts.” 

Jenefier continued to tell us that many people who say they normally don’t care for yogurt quickly become fans of Amelia’s yogurt because it is so different from what is available commercially. 

Amelia Creamery sold its first yogurt in 2017. But the tradition did not start there! The Creamery is owned by the Barros family, who live near Nowata. The Barros family is originally from Brazil and they moved to the United States in 1994. Tony and Maria Barros and their three children, Jorge, Juliana and Mariana, purchased a ranch in Nowata County and moved from Brazil. 

The family grew up making their own yogurt and when they moved to the United States, they couldn’t find what they liked in stores so they started up making their own here. Tony worked for about five years on the proprietary blend of probiotics to get just the right taste and then started testing the market. The rest, as some say, is history. 

Their son Jorge manages the cattle operation at the ranch. Tony is a professional pilot by trade and currently works as a private pilot for a family from Brazil. You can find their products in various locations, which are available on their website.

We asked about why community-based food, including the Farm to Fork concept, was so important to them. 

“We support local farmers and those across our nation working hard to put good food on our tables. This supports local economic growth and eliminates the ‘middle man’ so the farmer benefits directly and the money is reinvested in their farms,” Jenefier said. “There’s also a better chance of you knowing how your food is handled before it lands on your table and chances are you can communicate directly with your local farmers.

“We want to thank every person that supports Amelia Creamery! We know we would not be where we are today if it weren’t for the local support and we are truly grateful,” she continued. “We vow to reinvest in our local communities and give back as we are able.  We not only want to grow our business but also help the families living in our community.” 

Have you tried Amelia Creamery yogurt? If not, why wait?