Maple Hill Creamery

What Maple Hill Creamery does

Maple Hill Creamery, LLC is a Kinderhook, New York-based producer of 100% grass-fed organic dairy products, founded in 2003 by Tim and Laura Joseph and operated as an independent private company until its acquisition by Horizon Family Brands (Broomfield, Colorado) in November 2025. The company sources milk from a milkshed of approximately 135 independent family farms, each averaging 50 cows, with cows fed exclusively on grass and pasture rather than grain or corn. Maple Hill holds the first third-party PCO 100% Grass-Fed Organic certification (Organic Plus Trust) and is a USDA Certified Organic producer as well as a USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities recipient (up to $20M grant awarded September 2022).

The product portfolio covers fluid milk (whole and 2% reduced fat), butter (salted and unsalted), kefir (plain, vanilla, strawberry) with approximately 12 active probiotic strains per serving, Greek yogurt (plain and vanilla bean), and cream-on-top yogurt (plain and vanilla). All products are made using proprietary bacterial culture blends, including blends developed by founder Tim Joseph for the company's hallmark tart and tangy creamline yogurt. The company also offers raw milk cheeses through a collaboration with Grafton Village Cheese.

Maple Hill distributes through natural food stores, specialty retailers, and mainstream grocery chains across all 50 states, with revenue generated from one-time product sales at standard retail price points. Customer segments are horizontal and persona-based: health-conscious consumers seeking nutrient-dense, clean-label dairy; environmentally conscious consumers prioritizing regenerative agriculture; and families seeking transparent, family-farm-sourced dairy. Distribution expanded from New York farmers' markets and Northeast natural food stores (starting 2009-2010) to national coverage by 2013, and the brand is positioned as "America's original 100% grass-fed organic dairy."

Name

Maple Hill Creamery

Legal name

Maple Hill Creamery, LLC

Website

https://maplehill.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maple Hill Creamery is a Kinderhook, New York-based producer of 100% grass-fed organic dairy products — milk, butter, kefir, Greek yogurt, and cream-on-top yogurt — sourced from a milkshed of about 135 independent family farms and distributed nationally to health-conscious, environmentally conscious, and family consumers via natural, specialty, and mainstream grocery retail channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Dairy Products

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAHAAAH

Organic & Specialty-Claim Fluid Milk Processing (Organic, A2, Grass-Fed)

Agriculture & Food Production/Dairy Processing/Fluid Milk Processing (Pasteurized, ESL, UHT)

Keywords

• Grass-fed organic dairy
• Organic milk products
• Cultured dairy products
• Grass-fed yogurt kefir
• Regenerative dairy farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Kinderhook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Dairy Product Sales: Maple Hill Creamery generates revenue through the sale of 100% grass-fed organic dairy products including whole milk, reduced fat milk, butter (salted and unsalted), kefir (plain, vanilla, and strawberry), Greek yogurt (plain and vanilla bean), and cream-on-top yogurt (plain and vanilla). Products are sold through retail channels including natural food stores, specialty retailers, and mainstream grocery stores.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maple Hill Creamery produces and sells 100% grass-fed organic dairy products including whole milk, 2% reduced fat milk, salted and unsalted butter, kefir (plain, vanilla, and strawberry), Greek yogurt (plain and vanilla bean), and cream-on-top yogurt (plain and vanilla). All products are manufactured from milk sourced from a milkshed of approximately 135 independent family farms operating under certified regenerative, pasture-based organic practices, with distribution through natural food stores, specialty retailers, mainstream grocery chains, and farmers' markets across the United States.

Product overview

Maple Hill Creamery is a producer of 100% grass-fed organic dairy products. The company offers a unified portfolio of dairy products including milk (whole milk and 2% reduced fat milk), butter (salted and unsalted), kefir (plain, vanilla, and strawberry flavors), Greek yogurt (plain and vanilla bean), and cream on top yogurt (plain and vanilla). All products are certified organic and made from milk produced by cows fed an exclusively grass diet. The company sources milk from a network of independent family farms (approximately 130-135 farms) collectively known as the Maple Hill Milkshed, with cows primarily grazing on pasture and consuming hay and baleage during winter months. Products are third-party certified by Organic Plus Trust as 100% Grass-fed Organic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 100% Grass-fed Organic Whole Milk The company's flagship 100% grass-fed organic whole milk sold in half-gallon cartons, made from cows fed exclusively on grass and not fortified with vitamins. Targeted at health-conscious consumers, families, and environmentally conscious buyers seeking premium organic milk with a superior nutritional profile.
• 100% Grass-fed Organic 2% Reduced Fat Milk 100% grass-fed organic 2% reduced fat milk fortified with vitamins A and D as required by US law, available in half-gallon cartons. Targeted at consumers seeking lower-fat organic grass-fed dairy with the same pasture-based nutritional profile as whole milk.
• 100% Grass-fed Butter (Salted and Unsalted) Smooth, rich, and creamy grass-fed butter offered in salted (organic cream and sea salt) and unsalted (organic cream and lactic acid) varieties. Sold to home cooks, bakers, and foodservice customers seeking premium organic butter made from grass-fed cream.
• 100% Grass-fed Kefir (Plain, Vanilla, Strawberry) Fermented cultured dairy beverage with yogurt-like tartness and creamy consistency, offered in plain (zero added sugar), vanilla, and strawberry varieties (Mindful Awards 2024 Kefir Product of the Year). Contains approximately 12 active probiotic strains; fermentation reduces lactose 20–30% making it easier to digest for those with lactose intolerance. Targeted at probiotic and gut-health consumers.
• 100% Grass-fed Greek Yogurt (Plain and Vanilla Bean) Ultra-filtered Greek yogurt with a thicker, more spoonable consistency than cream on top yogurt, offered in plain (zero added sugar) and vanilla bean varieties. Made from 100% grass-fed organic milk with proprietary cultures; targeted at health-conscious consumers and families seeking high-protein organic yogurt.
• 100% Grass-fed Cream on Top Yogurt (Plain and Vanilla) Creamy, fresh creamline yogurt with a layer of cream on top, offered in plain and vanilla varieties. Made with proprietary cultures and 100% grass-fed organic whole milk, with a unique earthy flavor from the cows' grass-fed diet. Targeted at consumers seeking the company's signature heritage yogurt with live and active probiotics.
• 100% Grass-fed Raw Milk Cheese (via Grafton Village Cheese partnership) Raw milk cheese offered in three varieties through a collaboration with Grafton Village Cheese, made from Maple Hill's 100% grass-fed organic milk. Targeted at fine dining establishments, cheese makers, and specialty retailers seeking premium artisan cheese.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% grass-fed organic milk can last up to 3 months unopened vs. 4-7 days for conventional milk
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Horizon OrganiccoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2026Maple Hill Creamery and Horizon Organic jointly celebrated National 100% Grass-Fed Organic Dairy Day on April 15, 2026 (second year of this observance founded by Maple Hill). The collaboration aimed to raise consumer awareness around the nutritional and environmental benefits of 100% grass-fed organic dairy, highlighting regenerative farming practices, soil health, and animal welfare supported by small family farms. Both companies positioned the event as an opportunity to expand the visibility and accessibility of pasture-based organic dairy products in the U.S. market.
• Horizon Family BrandsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Horizon Family Brands, based in Broomfield, Colorado, acquired Maple Hill Creamery in November 2025. The acquisition aims to expand Horizon's portfolio and retail presence while allowing Maple Hill to grow its mission and reach more consumers. The acquisition was announced publicly in late November/early December 2025. Horizon Family Brands showcased Maple Hill at Natural Products Expo West 2026 in Anaheim, California, marking the first major industry appearance since the acquisition.
• Grafton Village CheeseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThrough a collaboration with Grafton Village Cheese starting in 2015, Maple Hill started selling Raw Milk Cheeses in three varieties. This partnership expanded product offerings beyond their core dairy products to include artisan cheese.
• VanAmburgs (Dharma Lea Farm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe VanAmburg family joined the Maple Hill milkshed in 2010 as the second 100% grass-fed dairy farm alongside the founding Stone Creek Farm. This partnership provided additional milk supply enabling increased production and broader Northeast distribution.
• Kings (Hidden Camp Farm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe King family joined the Maple Hill milkshed in 2010 as the third 100% grass-fed dairy farm. Together with the VanAmburgs, this partnership expanded milk supply enough to increase distribution across the Northeast in natural food and specialty stores.
• USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture)flagshipOthersMaple Hill was awarded up to $20 million by the USDA to expand climate-smart markets for organic dairy. The grant supports initiatives to promote sustainable dairy farming and environmental practices among small farms. Multiple partners including organizations and retailers collaborate on this project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Horizon Organic: Largest U.S. organic dairy brand and now Maple Hill's sister brand under Horizon Family Brands. Overlaps across fluid milk, butter, and yogurt but with a broader, mainstream-priced SKU portfolio rather than grass-fed specialization.
• HP Hood: Large Northeast dairy manufacturer with broad fluid milk, cultured, and lactose-free portfolios including the Green Valley Creamery brand. Comparable manufacturing scale and retail relationships, with overlap on organic and value-added dairy SKUs.
• Danone North America: Global dairy and plant-based leader operating yogurt and dairy brands including Stonyfield. Broad incumbent with overlapping organic and functional dairy categories and far greater marketing and distribution scale.

Direct peers

• Alexandre Family Farm: Grass-fed organic dairy and eggs brand with regenerative certification. Directly competes in the grass-fed organic fluid milk, butter, and yogurt categories with similar pasture-raised animal welfare positioning.
• Straus Family Creamery: Certified organic, non-GMO, and largely grass-fed dairy producer on the West Coast. Direct comparable on regenerative organic dairy positioning and small-farm supply chain, though more regionally concentrated than Maple Hill.
• Stonyfield Farm: Organic yogurt and dairy brand directly overlapping Maple Hill's Greek yogurt, kefir, and creamline yogurt categories. Both compete for the same health- and sustainability-oriented consumer in natural and mainstream grocery channels.
• Organic Valley: Farmer-owned cooperative producing organic dairy including fluid milk, butter, and yogurt. Closely comparable as a multi-farm organic dairy brand with a farmer-network supply model similar to Maple Hill's milkshed.

Emerging players

• Green Valley Creamery: Organic lactose-free dairy brand owned by HP Hood. Overlaps with Maple Hill on organic fluid milk and yogurt but competes primarily on lactose-free functionality rather than grass-fed certification.
• Wallaby Organic: Organic whole-milk yogurt brand focused on clean-label, Australian-style yogurt. Comparable in organic yogurt category with similar health-conscious consumer targeting, though without grass-fed positioning.

Regional players

• Five Acre Farms: Regional Northeast-focused brand sourcing from small and mid-sized farms for fluid milk and other dairy. Comparable in small-farm transparent sourcing narrative, though more localized than Maple Hill's national footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/maplehillcream
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmbg0gOkY0G1A7mnKk8ijJw
• Facebookfacebook.com/MapleHillCreamery
• Instagraminstagram.com/maplehillcreamery
• Pinterestin.pinterest.com/maplehillcreamery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maple-hill-creamery

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maple Hill Creamery