Last night we handed out yogurt samples at Jane’s Health Market in Benson (Omaha) during the Nebraska Food Cooperative pick-up time. This was our first opportunity to introduce Del Marie yogurt to people who don’t already love and support us.  Special thanks to Libby Broekemeier from the co-op who made it possible — we really appreciated the opportunity.

Highlights included:

• Our first samplers, two kids, coming back for refills three times. “It’s DELICIOUS,” they said.
• One man being strongly urged — or forced? — by his wife to try it and then actually liking the yogurt a lot. This gives us hope that Stephen Pedersen will someday learn to love yogurt. We’ll get you yet, Steve!
• A little girl finger-scooping then licking out the dregs from her sample cup, oblivious to all else.
• Ali, Brooke and Janna showing up to support us.
• Meeting a new crew of really amazing people who are committed to buying local food. They were willing, even happy, to listen to us go on (and on and on) about yogurt.

Someone recently said that there is no better feeling than letting someone taste your product and having them absolutely love it. We got to experience that last night and it’s so true! We’re definitely hooked on feeding people good food.

- daphne

Throughout the process of launching Del Marie Creamery, Daphne and I have been asked question after question starting with the “why” word:

Why yogurt?

Why dairy?

Why local?

Why grass-fed?

Why Del Marie?

And I’ll admit I have often been part of that crowd.

I not only love but need to retrace my steps to make sense of what is going on in my life.  And right now, there are a whole lot of those “What in the WORLD is happening” kinds of feelings (in a this-is-super-fun-ummmm-i-think-my-heart-just-stopped-please-save-me-no-really-this-is-great kind of way).

So, this seems like a good time to start answering those questions; to create a blue print of the how and why we got where we are today.  I can’t promise that these questions will be answered in order or in any cohesive manner whatsoever but I do promise that my version of the “why” will be … well, really it will just be my side of the story.

In short, and hopefully what will come through in this little series of thoughts and stories, Del Marie Creamery is:

• the most fun I’ve ever had
• freaking delicious
• super healthy
• half Daphne, half Annemarie
• the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done
• pretty damn cool
• from Omaha, NE (with love)
• made with milk from happy cows

Part 2 – coming soon.

- annemarie