French-style yogurt business inspired by founder’s travels, family
ARCADIA – Juliana Forster enjoys at least a serving a day of Amelia Creamery’s French-style yogurt.
“Besides being natural and healthy for you, it’s almost like a dessert,” Forster said of the yogurt made at her family’s factory and available at the Arcadia Farmers Market General Store.
“The French-style yogurt is creamier, with no sour aftertaste.”
Her father, professional pilot Tony Barros, was of the same opinion when he visited France many years ago.
“He’s always had a dream of starting a food business,” Forster said.
“He grew up in Brazil, his mom cooked from scratch, and yogurt was one of their staple foods.”
The French yogurt tasted much like that made by his European ancestors, but to him it was just a little bit better, Forster said.
Another Tony Barros dream was to move to the United States, especially after visiting friends in Kansas and Oklahoma in 1994.
So, they traded some family land in Brazil for a cattle ranch in Oklahoma, the family obtained citizenship, and five years ago Amelia Creamery came to be. Juliana and her husband, Daniel, partner with her father in the Nowata County business.
The staff is small but growing. Juliana Forster is production manager, Barbara Wilson is assistant manager, and three additional employees keep the production lines moving.
Jenefier Wickham is general manager, three drivers deliver most of the yogurt, and Daniel Forster “assists with anything we need,” Juliana Forster said.
The yogurt is sold in 5-ounce clay jars and 30ounce plastic containers at the Arcadia Farmers Market General Store and about 70 other stores in Oklahoma, plus a few in Kansas and Arkansas. The business really grew after they joined the Made in Oklahoma Coalition, Forster said.
The fruit yogurts are flavored with jam made from recipes passed down through generations of her mother’s side of the family.
No preservatives are used, and the yogurt is made from whole cow’s milk sourced locally from Hiland Dairy.
Amelia is the name of the Forsters’ 13-year-old daughter.
“Dad’s mom was named Amelia,” Forster said. “That was my dad’s first granddaughter, and he wanted to name the business for her.”
Kimberly Burk is a publicist for the Arcadia Farmers Market General Store.