A Century of Midwest Dairy Crystal Farms is marking its 100th anniversary this June, underscoring a century-long commitment to sourcing dairy from regional farms and maintaining consistent quality across its cheese and butter product lines.

Founded in 1926 as a local egg business, the Minneapolis-based company has evolved into a market-leading cheese supplier. The brand remains a subsidiary of Lipari Foods.

Staying Regional The company's strategy hinges on sourcing from Midwest farms and co-ops. "Our Midwest roots don't just run deep, they define who we are and the legacy we have built for Crystal Farms over the past 100 years. By sourcing our ingredients from local farms whenever we can, creating delicious cheese and maintaining our quality promise, we've remained a staple on grocery lists and in refrigerators," said President Tim Bratland.

Bratland also highlighted the brand's cultural footprint: "We are honored to see our butter and cheese show up at dinner tables, potlucks and holidays of families and friends for generations. We will continue to innovate, listen to our customers and provide them with quality food to bring to the table."

Centennial Sweepstakes To mark the milestone, Crystal Farms launched a commemorative sweepstakes with prizes including:

- A flat-top grill

- $5,000 Visa gift card

- Grilling utensils

- One year of free cheese

Rules and entry details are available at crystalfarms100.com.

Community Commitments The company has woven philanthropic partnerships into its brand identity. Crystal Farms supports FFA national and state programs, donates to Ronald McDonald House, and supplies cheese and butter to All Square, a Minneapolis-based restaurant that employs people impacted by the criminal legal system.

Why It Matters

For foodservice operators and retail buyers, Crystal Farms' 100-year trajectory reflects a consistent regional supply chain advantage—a selling point in an era when sourcing transparency and local partnerships command premium positioning in competitive markets.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors