Sibby's expanding near and far.

As more frozen dessert companies add organic lines and increase consumer awareness of these products, companies that have been exclusively organic are finding new opportunities to expand. A case in point is Sibby's, which has been providing organic ice cream to markets in Wisconsin for seven years. The company has gained national distribution through the premiere organic distributor, United Natural Foods, and has recently opened its first retail shop in Viroqua, located not far from the family farm where the ice cream is produced.

Sibby's is the creation of Sue "Sibby" Sebion. She developed the ice cream as part of an effort to preserve the 150-year old farm homesteaded by her great-grandfather, while also remaining true to her own commitment to the organic and sustainable agriculture movement. Working with ice cream experts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Dairy Research, she was able to develop a formula using all certified organic ingredients, including the egg yolks, vanilla, cocoa and sugar, supplied by small local Wisconsin farmers or fair-trade growers overseas.

The new shop, dubbed the Organic Zone serves fair-trade, locally roasted coffee and espresso drinks, soda, tea and hot dogs, along with a soft serve version of the ice cream. The shop's style is described by Sibby as "new-age vintage," with an emphasis on recycled materials.

Sibby's expansion included overcoming a major setback this past year when floods from the nearby Mississippi River, described did serious damage to the ice cream plant on the farm. However, support from the local community and the ice cream's fan-base helped to put the ice cream business back on its feet.

With new packaging, the brand is now available in all Midwest Whole Foods Markets as well as many food co-ops and natural food stores across approximately 16 Midwest states, as well as in select markets in New York City, Greenwich, CT, the Boston area, and parts of Maine.

Print Get the Mag Weekly Updates