Jones Dairy Farm

Jones Dairy Farm

Company type	Family-owned company
Industry	Food (meat products)
Founded	1889 (1889)
Founder	Milo C. Jones Jr.
Headquarters	Fort Atkinson , United States
Area served	United States, international
Key people	Philip Jones (CEO)
Products	Breakfast sausage, ham, Canadian bacon, scrapple, liver sausage
Website	www.jonesdairyfarm.com

Jones Dairy Farm is a family-owned American food enterprise focused on producing meat items such as breakfast sausage, ham, Canadian bacon, scrapple, and liver sausage. Established in 1889 by Milo C. Jones, this company continues to operate under family management and is based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.

History

In 1832, Milo Jones moved from Vermont to Fort Atkinson to start a dairy operation that specialized in cheese production and pig farming. His son, Milo C. Jones Jr., born in 1849, transformed the family business amid economic challenges by founding a sausage company in 1889, utilizing a traditional family recipe. Unlike many sausage producers who relied on pork scraps, Milo Jr. distinguished his products by incorporating premium cuts such as ham, loin, and shoulder.

The business rapidly grew beyond its regional base to serve major metropolitan areas like Chicago, New York City, and Boston. This expansion was supported by rail transportation and innovative marketing strategies including direct mail campaigns and advertisements in national publications like the Saturday Evening Post.

Jones Dairy Farm was a pioneer in several industry advancements: it was the first meatpacker to employ quick-freezing technology for sausages during the 1920s, which allowed for chemical-free preservation and enabled distribution across the country and internationally. The company also introduced the earliest fully cooked breakfast sausage line as well as one of the first "light" sausage options. To ensure product safety, it established one of the first on-site bacteriological laboratories and remains the sole privately held company accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation.

Leadership has remained within the Jones lineage over successive generations: following Milo Jr.'s passing in 1919, his daughter Mary assumed control, succeeded later by nephews Alan and Edward Jones. In 1983, Milo C. Jones III became president; Edward C. Jones Jr. took over in 1995; and since 2001, Philip Jones—great-great-grandson of the founder—has served as CEO, guiding the company’s focus on innovation and expanding market presence.

Location

Jones Dairy Farm encompasses , which includes the manufacturing facility, agricultural fields, and the original farmhouse constructed by founder Milo Jones I in 1843.

On December 27, 1978, the site—excluding the contemporary processing plant—was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This designation covers historic buildings such as a post and beam barn dating back to around 1839, a greenhouse from the 1840s, a horse barn from the mid-19th century, and the farmhouse that underwent several expansions through 1922. Also part of this historic district are the 1907 sausage kitchen designed by D.I. Davis and Associates, a Colonial Revival-style house built in 1897, along with another residence erected in 1930.

Products

The flagship item of Jones Dairy Farm continues to be its original breakfast sausage recipe, which has remained consistent since its inception in 1889. The company’s offerings also comprise hams, bacon varieties including Canadian bacon, liver sausage, and scrapple, serving both retail customers and foodservice providers. Distribution channels include conventional supermarkets, grocery outlets, as well as direct special orders placed via the company’s website. Additionally, Jones Dairy Farm owns prominent scrapple brands such as Habbersett and Rapa.

Sponsorships

Jones Dairy Farm actively endorses gluten-free efforts by providing sponsorship to the Gluten-Free Certification Organization, which operates under the Gluten Intolerance Group. Additionally, the company raises awareness about celiac disease through its support of the Celiac Disease Foundation and holds a benefactor membership with the Celiac Sprue Association.

In 2015, the company initiated an annual scholarship program aimed at culinary students attending Pennsylvania College of Technology, demonstrating its dedication to advancing industry education and fostering community involvement.