In this month’s Pioneers feature, we bring you US yogurt sister duo Painterland Sisters, fourth-gen dairy farmers whose organic skyr is taking the market by storm . . .
What attracted you to the dairy business instead of pursuing another career?
We grew up on a family’s fourth-generation organic regenerative dairy farm, surrounded by the lifestyle, values, and hard work that helped shape us. As we got older, we realized that many people were disconnected from the source of their food. Additionally, back home, family farms in our community were struggling. Rather than leaving agriculture behind, we wanted to advocate for farmers, preserve our family legacy, and turn our passion into a purpose-driven business. Dairy gave us a way to combine entrepreneurship with impact, empowering consumers to understand where their food comes from while supporting rural communities.
Why did you choose to go into regenerative organic dairy farming?
We wanted to do more than make yogurt, we wanted to support farms who face consolidation pressures and volatile milk markets. Our regenerative organic practices let us produce nutrient-rich milk that reflects the values we grew up with, while stabilizing local farms including our own and other regional dairies. It’s a way to grow responsibly, preserve rural livelihoods, and show that farming can thrive without sacrificing integrity or the environment.
How did you set out to launch your yogurt business?
In 2018, when we faced the possibility of selling our cows, we made a choice to take our future into our own hands. We began traveling across the country and abroad, learning and practicing different yogurt-making techniques while experimenting with small-batch recipes back home on the farm.
Through our exploration, we discovered a clear gap in the market for nutrient-dense, lactose-free dairy that truly connects people to the source of their food. We set out to create a yogurt rooted in integrity, transparency, and nourishment–one that honors the milk, the land, and the people behind it, while delivering an extra creamy and defiantly dreamy taste.
How did you navigate relationships with co-manufacturers, milk suppliers and retailers? What have been the biggest learning curves from that early period?
Building trust and alignment with every partner has been at the heart of our journey. From co-manufacturers to co-op trucks, every collaboration has helped us bring the highest-quality yogurt to market while keeping local farmers and their milk at the center of it all.
Working hand-in-hand with grocers like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Giant, Natural Grocers, and Publix taught us that growth isn’t just about scale, it’s about storytelling, education, and community. We’ve always wanted our yogurt to reach the nooks and crannies of the world because that’s where we come from, the small town where we know our community members by name.
Ironically, one of our biggest challenges has been ensuring that our own community has access to the yogurt they helped inspire. That’s why we’re passionate about advocating for food hubs and rural food availability so that farm-fresh, nourishing food can reach the people who help create it.
At the end of the day, every relationship we build – whether it’s with a farmer, retailer, or within our community – it’s rooted in deep connection and alignment in this mission we are after.
Why did you choose to produce skyr? What attracted you to this category?
We chose skyr because it’s a dairy product that’s naturally extra creamy, nutrient-dense, and true to its roots. For us, it’s a way to honor the milk we work so hard to produce, turning it into something that is simply yummy, wholesome, and connected to the farm.
The category naturally resonates with health-conscious, ingredient-aware consumers, which is perfect for our yogurt. We were excited about the gap we could fill: bringing authenticity and heart to the aisle by shining a light on farmers through the lens of two young female farmers.
From the cup design to the yogurt inside, every detail was crafted to connect people to the farmers who make it possible. We believe that each cup of skyr serves as a conduit to educate consumers about the source of their food, and that by crafting skyr, we’re not just making yogurt; we’re helping family farms, including our own and our neighbors across Pennsylvania, thrive for generations to come.
What did you learn about making yogurt that you didn’t know when you were simply consumers?
The entire CPG world was new to us when we started this business, let alone the yogurt-making process. In fact, Hayley wasn’t even a huge fan of yogurt before we started! So, beyond using milk, we didn’t know all of the intricacies that went into making yogurt, especially skyr, at this scale. Over the years we’ve learned so much about the care that goes into every step of the process, like the quality of milk, the fermentation, texture, and probiotic selection. It’s been an exciting journey to learn and grow, and get to do it together.
You both produce your own milk and also source from third-party suppliers. What are the benefits and drawbacks of this model?
Producing our own milk gives us a deep understanding of the connection and synergies between our animals, the land, and our community. We know firsthand what it takes to make a gallon of milk–the care, effort, and respect that go into every step. That perspective instils grace, passion, and values that run through everything we do at Painterland Sisters. It keeps us true to our mission and ensures that the nutrients we nurture in the soil, animals, and farmers flow into the raw milk, the yogurt we craft, and ultimately into people’s homes and onto their spoons.
Sourcing milk from other organic farms in the area is equally valuable. It allows us to build a stronger, more resilient community of farmers. Organic farming thrives on collaboration, and working together helps sustain not just individual farms, but the greater agricultural ecosystem. By supporting and sourcing from neighboring farms that share our values, we strengthen our region, support other family farmers, and create something that can last for generations.
How does your product stand out on the vast US yogurt market? What helps you differentiate?
Beyond the nutrient-density, probiotics, and protein content, we believe that our story is what sets us apart on the shelves.
Our story is at the heart of every cup of yogurt. Each spoonful is a touchpoint to our family’s fourth-generation organic regenerative dairy farm in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, and to the neighboring farms that share our commitment to caring for the land, the animals, and the people it sustains. It’s this connection that is helping us stand out from the pack. Through our branding and hand-drawn illustrations, we invite people into our world–fields of wildflowers, grazing cows, and family roots that run deep. Every detail on the cup is designed to tell a story, bridging the gap between the farm and the fridge, and reminding people where real food truly begins.
How do you set out to create new products, flavors? What’s your product development strategy guided by?
Our innovation starts with listening to our community. We’re proud to have an engaged audience who shares their ideas, cravings, and feedback with us every step of the way. Their voices, paired with thoughtful, high-quality ingredients, guide how we create new products and flavors.
Every decision begins with honoring the integrity of the milk and meeting real nutritional needs. Each flavor and format is crafted to provide transparency, promote sustainability, and delight consumers without ever compromising the quality of our milk or the strength of our supply chain.
Which consumers does your skyr appeal to – and who do you still need to win over?
Our skyr appeals to health-conscious shoppers, families seeking high-quality dairy, and consumers who value sustainability and transparency. It’s also a perfect fit for active lifestyles, serving as a high-protein, nutrient-rich snack for people on the go. We are excited to continue reaching more people who are new to skyr, and those with lactose sensitivities who are able to reintroduce dairy products into their lives.
Where is your skyr sold today, across retail, foodservice, e-commerce etc? What’s the level of distribution?
Painterland Sisters is sold nationwide at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Publix, Natural Grocers, Fresh Thyme and Fresh Market.
Beyond those national stores, we take pride in being on the shelves of local co-ops, independent grocers, and mom-and-pop shops across the country! Overall, you can find us in over 6,000 stores in all 50 states. Each of these stores has been incredible in getting our story out into the world. Our focus is on building thoughtful, values-aligned distribution that continues to expand our product into new pockets of the country.
You are a sister duo of co-CEOs, but who else is on your team? How has that team evolved over the years?
We’ve grown from a smaller-scale operation to a larger team including marketing, operations, production, and impact roles. When we started, there were only a handful of people on our team, all of whom wore many hats. Now as we’ve grown, we have a team of nearly 30 incredible humans from all across the country. We are very grateful for the shared mission and values that help shape Painterland Sisters from the inside out!
What’s a typical day at the office / on the farm for you today? How have things changed compared to when you started out?
Our days are a mix of strategic planning and team leadership. We went from the early days of hand-labeling our yogurts and knocking on store doors to today, where we focus on guiding the team, managing partnerships, and scaling operations while staying connected to the farm and the mission. No two days are the same, but that’s the part of the journey that makes it so exciting!
What will be the next big thing in yogurt? How do you see the category evolving and Painterland Sisters with it?
We see yogurt evolving toward high-protein, functional, and sustainable options. We will continue innovating within the yogurt category, expanding into more retailers while launching new fun flavors. Wherever we go next, our focus remains on purposeful growth, transparency, and leveraging the category to drive positive change for people, communities, and Mother Earth.
