Clover Sonoma
Northern California dairy company and brand known for milk, organic dairy products, family-farm sourcing, and sustainability commitments.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
Clover Sonoma is a dairy company and consumer brand based in Petaluma, Sonoma County, California. Its roots reach back to the early twentieth century, when the Petaluma Cooperative Creamery distributed Clover-branded dairy products to households and stores in Petaluma. The brand later expanded through Sonoma and Marin counties and became a familiar dairy name across the North Bay. Its identity is closely associated with the agricultural communities of Northern California, where the company works with family-owned dairy farms in Sonoma, Marin, and Mendocino counties. The modern company was formed in 1977 through the combination of Stornetta's Dairy and the distribution business associated with the Petaluma Cooperative Creamery. This followed a major 1975 fire that damaged the cooperative's Petaluma facilities, including its processing and bottling line and cooler. Rather than rebuild the cooperative's own facility, the owners of Clover acquired its wholesale distribution operations and also purchased Stornetta Dairy in Sonoma. The resulting business operated as Clover Stornetta Farms. A major operational transition occurred in 1984, when the company moved its operations and distribution back to Petaluma. In June 1991, it opened a new milk-processing facility there. The automated plant replaced the antiquated, labor-intensive equipment at the Sonoma bottling plant and substantially increased production capacity while using the same level of manpower. This facility became an important foundation for the company's subsequent regional growth. Clover Sonoma's product portfolio centers on fluid milk and other dairy foods, including conventional and organic milk, yogurt, cream, sour cream, butter, and related products. The company also developed children's organic yogurt smoothies under the Clover the Rainbow sister brand, launched in 2021. The brand serves consumers who value regional sourcing, organic options, animal welfare, and environmentally responsible production. The company formalized these priorities through its Clover Promise of Excellence program. Introduced in 1994 as the North Coast Excellence Certified program and supplemented by full third-party certification in 1999, the program establishes requirements for animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and milk quality on participating family farms. Clover Sonoma states that all 30 of its dairy farms are family-owned and identifies itself as the first U.S. dairy to become American Humane Certified. Sustainability is another central part of the brand's positioning. Reported practices include recycling manure for farm fertilizer or use by local organic farms, rotational grazing, reuse of water from milk plate coolers for animal drinking water, and annual pasture reseeding to maintain soil quality and grass diversity. The company has also pursued lower-impact packaging, including the removal of plastic caps from paper cartons and the development of a fully renewable plant-based milk carton. In 2020, it said that more than 10 million cartons had been converted and that it intended to transition its entire milk-carton range over time. Clover Sonoma became a Certified B Corporation in 2016 and announced its recertification in 2020. Its community program, Clover Cares, commits at least five percent of annual profits to charitable organizations supporting dairy, children and future generations, education, agriculture, health, and local communities. The brand's long-running mascot, Clo the Cow, debuted in 1969 and remains part of its traditional, digital, social, and packaging communications. In 2017, the company adopted the Clover Sonoma name to emphasize its Sonoma County heritage and conducted a broad packaging redesign covering both conventional and organic lines. In December 2021, Colombian dairy company Alpina Productos Alimenticios acquired 70% of the company's shares. Clover Sonoma remains an active regional dairy business operating from Petaluma.
History
Clover Sonoma's history begins with the Petaluma Cooperative Creamery, which distributed Clover-branded dairy products to homes and retailers in Petaluma in the early 1900s. As Sonoma and Marin counties grew, Clover products expanded throughout the North Bay and became available in grocery stores across the region. In 1975, a major fire in Petaluma damaged the cooperative's facilities, destroying its processing and bottling line and cooler. Two years later, the owners of Clover acquired the cooperative's wholesale distribution business after deciding not to rebuild the cooperative facility. They also purchased Stornetta Dairy in Sonoma. The combination created Clover Stornetta Farms, the predecessor of the current Clover Sonoma business. The company moved its operations and distribution back to Petaluma in 1984. Its new Petaluma milk-processing plant opened in June 1991. The facility used computerized automation and could produce substantially more milk than the older Sonoma plant without a corresponding increase in manpower. This modernization supported the company's continued development as a regional dairy processor and brand. Clover's animal-welfare, environmental, and quality program was introduced in 1994 as the North Coast Excellence Certified program. It was later expanded with full third-party certification in 1999 and became known as the Clover Promise of Excellence. The program established standards that family dairy farms were expected to meet in areas including milk quality, environmental care, and animal welfare. The company later became American Humane Certified, describing itself as the first U.S. dairy to receive that certification. Brand-building has also been part of Clover's history. Clo the Cow first appeared as the Clover Stornetta mascot in 1969, initially on billboards across the Redwood Empire. Her pun-based character continued in print, television, digital, social-media, and packaging communications. In 2016, Clover became a Certified B Corporation, formally connecting the business with standards covering governance, workers, customers, community, and the environment. In 2017, Clover Stornetta Farms changed its name to Clover Sonoma. The renaming emphasized the company's regional heritage and was accompanied by a major packaging update. Both conventional packaging, which had remained substantially unchanged since the 1980s, and organic packaging, which had not been comprehensively updated since the early 2000s, were redesigned. The company continued to emphasize sustainability under the leadership of CEO Marcus Benedetti. Its reported measures include manure recycling, rotational grazing, water reuse, pasture management, reduced plastic use, and renewable packaging. In 2020, Clover Sonoma announced B Corporation recertification and promoted a fully renewable plant-based milk carton. It reported converting more than 10 million cartons during that year and stated an intention to transition its broader milk-carton portfolio. Community activity is organized partly through Clover Cares, which directs at least five percent of annual profits to qualifying charitable organizations and initiatives. Reported examples include support for a Petaluma hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, children's cooking activities, education grants, and agricultural education. In 2021, the company broadened its portfolio by launching Clover the Rainbow, a sister brand of organic yogurt smoothies for children. In December of the same year, Alpina Productos Alimenticios, a Colombian dairy company, acquired 70% of Clover Sonoma's shares. Clover Sonoma continues to operate as a Petaluma-based dairy company with family-farm relationships in Sonoma, Marin, and Mendocino counties.
- 2021
Clover the Rainbow launches
[1]The company launches a sister brand offering organic yogurt smoothies for children.
- 2021
Alpina acquires a majority stake
[1]Alpina Productos Alimenticios acquires 70% of Clover Sonoma's shares in December.
- 2020
Renewable carton initiative is unveiled
[1]Clover Sonoma announces B Corporation recertification and a fully renewable plant-based milk carton initiative.
- 2017
The Clover Sonoma name is adopted
[1]Clover Stornetta Farms changes its name to Clover Sonoma and refreshes packaging across conventional and organic product lines.
- 2016
Clover becomes a Certified B Corporation
[1]The company joins the Certified B Corporation movement, committing to assessment across governance, workers, customers, community, and environment.
- 1999
Third-party certification is added
[1]The Clover Promise of Excellence receives a full third-party certification component.
- 1994
Excellence certification program begins
[1]Clover introduces the North Coast Excellence Certified program, later known as the Clover Promise of Excellence.
- 1991
New Petaluma processing plant opens
[1]Clover Stornetta opens an automated milk-processing facility in Petaluma, increasing output compared with the former Sonoma plant.
- 1984
Operations return to Petaluma
[1]The company moves its operations and distribution back to Petaluma.
- 1977
Clover Stornetta Farms is formed
[1]The owners of Clover acquire the cooperative's wholesale distribution business and Stornetta Dairy, creating the predecessor of Clover Sonoma.
Products and positioning
A regional Northern California dairy brand positioned around family-farm sourcing, organic and high-quality dairy products, animal welfare, environmental stewardship, local community support, and sustainability-oriented packaging.
Fluid milk
Clover Sonoma Organic Milk
The core Clover Sonoma range consists of conventional fluid milk sold through the company's Northern California dairy distribution network. The line is associated with regional family-farm sourcing and the company's milk-quality standards. Clover Sonoma's organic milk range extends the company's dairy offering to consumers seeking certified organic products. Its packaging was included in the brand-wide redesign introduced after the 2017 name change.
Yogurt
Clover Sonoma Yogurt
The yogurt portfolio includes conventional and organic yogurt products within the broader Clover Sonoma dairy range. The category is complemented by the children's Clover the Rainbow smoothie line.
Children's organic dairy beverages · 2021
Clover the Rainbow Organic Yogurt Smoothies
Launched in 2021, Clover the Rainbow is a sister dairy brand focused on organic yogurt smoothies for children. Clo the Cow also appears on the brand's packaging and related communications.
Fortified milk
Organic DHA Omega-3 + Choline Milk
This specialty organic milk product adds DHA omega-3 and choline to the dairy offering. Clover Sonoma linked sales of the product with a contribution to the Plastic Pollution Coalition through its partnership with 1% for the Planet.
Dairy basics
Clover Sonoma Cream, Sour Cream, and Butter
The company also sells staple dairy products including cream, sour cream, and butter, extending the brand beyond drinking milk into everyday cooking and food-service uses.
Marketing campaigns
- 1994Clover Promise of Excellence
Northern California
Clover introduced a farm-certification and sourcing program covering animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and milk quality. It began as the North Coast Excellence Certified program and later incorporated full third-party certification.
Outcome. The program became a central part of Clover Sonoma's quality and sustainability positioning.
- 1969Clo the Cow
Northern California · United States
Clo the Cow debuted on billboards across the Redwood Empire and developed into the brand's long-running mascot, using cow-themed humor and puns in advertising and packaging.
Outcome. Clo remains part of Clover Sonoma's traditional, digital, social-media, and product communications.
- Clover Cares
Northern California
Clover Cares is the company's community-giving program. It supports organizations and projects connected with dairy, children, education, agriculture, health, and local community development.
Outcome. Reported activities include pandemic fundraising for Petaluma Valley Hospital, a children's cooking challenge, education grants, and agricultural education.
Brand decisions
2021
Launch of Clover the RainbowProduct launchBackground
The company expanded beyond its established dairy lines with a child-focused sister brand.
Action taken
Clover Sonoma launched organic yogurt smoothies under the Clover the Rainbow name.
Aftermath
The new line extended the brand's organic offering and used Clo the Cow in its packaging and communications.
2021
Sale of a majority stake to AlpinaM&ABackground
Clover Sonoma entered a new ownership structure involving Colombian dairy company Alpina Productos Alimenticios.
Action taken
Alpina acquired 70% of Clover Sonoma's shares in December 2021.
Aftermath
Clover Sonoma continued operating as a Petaluma-based regional dairy company within a majority-Alpina ownership structure.
2020
Shift toward renewable milk-carton packagingStrategyBackground
Clover Sonoma continued its sustainability program through packaging changes and efforts to reduce plastic waste.
Action taken
The company unveiled a fully renewable plant-based milk carton and reported converting more than 10 million cartons during 2020.
Aftermath
Clover Sonoma stated that it intended to convert its entire milk-carton line to fully renewable packaging over the following years.
2017
Rebrand from Clover Stornetta Farms to Clover SonomaStrategyBackground
The company sought to emphasize its Sonoma County heritage while updating packaging that had remained largely unchanged for many years.
Action taken
It adopted the Clover Sonoma name and redesigned packaging across conventional and organic product lines.
Aftermath
The current Clover Sonoma identity became the umbrella for the company's regional dairy products and sustainability positioning.
Recent events
- 2021
Clover Sonoma launches Clover the Rainbow[1]
Product launch
The company introduced Clover the Rainbow, a sister dairy brand offering organic yogurt smoothies for children.
- 2021
Alpina Productos Alimenticios acquires a majority stake in Clover Sonoma[1]
M&A
In December 2021, Colombian dairy company Alpina Productos Alimenticios acquired 70% of Clover Sonoma's shares.
- 2020
Clover Sonoma announces B Corporation recertification and renewable carton initiative[1]
Other · Product launch
The company announced its B Corporation recertification and presented what it described as the first fully renewable plant-based milk carton in the United States.
- 2017
Clover Sonoma adopts its current name and redesigns its packaging[1]
Other · Product generation
The company changed its name from Clover Stornetta Farms to Clover Sonoma to highlight its Sonoma County heritage and introduced a comprehensive redesign for its conventional and organic product packaging.
Sources1 sources
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