Sixth-Generation Humboldt Dairy Launches Jersey Scoops Ice Cream Brand

Thomas Nicholson Stratton of Jersey Scoops and Foggy Bottoms Boys is launching Jersey Scoops, a value-added ice cream brand built on his family’s sixth-generation Humboldt County dairy and its grass-fed organic Jersey milk. Stratton is pitching what he calls a "million-dollar idea" to convert the farm’s long-running milk supply into handcrafted ice cream that showcases the richness of their milk.

Stratton said, "Our milk has been in production for well over 100 years." He framed the move to ice cream as a business shift rather than a commodity play: "Providing that as a commodity is a great opportunity, but turning it into added value creates more opportunity for our farm to thrive." The family farm positions the new product line as a way to strengthen local food resiliency by keeping production and products rooted in Humboldt County.

Jersey Scoops is currently expanding distribution into the Bay Area after years of customer demand, and the business lists future products that include popsicles and ice cream bars. Social promotion for the brand hints at local collaboration: a Facebook post fragment signed "Billy" reads, "... six new collaboration flavors with our Humboldt maker partners and community ❤️ . ... humboldt #humboldtcounty #realdairy - at Jersey Scoops. Billy" The company has said long-term plans include growing regionally along the coast while supporting regenerative agriculture and brand partnerships.

Participation in Startup Humboldt has been part of the rollout strategy, and involvement in the program has allowed "the couple — who bring backgrounds in business, marketing and soil science — to revisit their business planning and marketing strategy while collaborating with other regional entrepreneurs." Startup Humboldt is a regional partnership that includes Cal Poly Humboldt, College of the Redwoods, Lost Coast Ventures, North Coast SBDC, Blue Tech Valley and the Institute for Entrepreneurship Education.

The immediate market play centers on converting longstanding dairy production into higher-margin retail items and partnerships with other Humboldt makers. Next milestones for Jersey Scoops include the Bay Area distribution expansion and the development of the new flavors and frozen novelties, while maintaining the farm’s organic, grass-fed Jersey-milk identity and stated support for regenerative agriculture as it scales regionally.