Penn State Berkey Creamery | State College

Penn State Berkey Creamery — Detailed Overview

1. History and Origins

Founded in 1865, the Berkey Creamery is one of the oldest university-run creameries in the United States. It was originally established behind Old Main to provide hands-on dairy education for Penn State students and serve the campus community.

The Creamery’s mission has always been to combine academic research and teaching in food science with production of high-quality dairy products. It evolved alongside Penn State’s land-grant mission to improve agriculture and food industries.

In 2006, the Creamery moved to the modern Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building and was renamed the Berkey Creamery to honor Earl and Jeanne Berkey, longtime supporters and benefactors of Penn State’s agricultural and food science programs.

2. Facilities and Operations

Located at 119 Food Science Building, University Park campus, the Creamery features state-of-the-art dairy processing equipment, including pasteurizers, homogenizers, ice cream freezers, and cheese vats.

It produces dairy products under strict quality controls, following USDA standards and university food safety protocols.

The Creamery functions as both a commercial production facility and an educational laboratory, training students in dairy manufacturing, product development, and quality assurance.

3. Products

Ice Cream: The flagship product. The Creamery offers over 100 unique flavors, rotating about 20–30 in the retail shop at any time. Popular flavors include:

Peachy Paterno (fresh peaches and cream)

Death by Chocolate (rich chocolate)

Turtle Creek (vanilla with chocolate caramel turtles)

Russ "digs" Roseberry (mixed berries and chocolate tribute to volleyball coach Russ Rose)

The Creamery produces around 225,000 gallons of ice cream annually and serves about 750,000 hand-dipped cones yearly on campus.

Cheese: Produces cheddar, ricotta, cream cheese, sour cream, and other fresh cheeses using milk sourced primarily from Pennsylvania dairy farms.

Milk and Butter: Fresh milk and dairy butter are also produced and sold on-site.

Meat Products: Recently expanded to include meats such as salami and jerky through partnership with Penn State Meats Laboratory.

4. Retail and Distribution

The Creamery operates a retail store on campus where visitors can purchase ice cream, cheeses, milk, and branded merchandise. The store is open daily with extended evening hours to serve students and visitors.

Products are also available for online ordering and shipping to 48 states in the U.S., making their dairy goods accessible nationwide.

The Creamery collaborates with local restaurants, grocery stores, and Penn State athletics concessions to supply ice cream and other dairy products.

5. Educational Role

The Creamery is integral to Penn State’s Food Science Department curriculum, providing practical training for undergraduate and graduate students in dairy processing, product innovation, and food safety.

Students engage in hands-on experiences, working alongside staff to produce, test, and market Creamery products.

The facility supports research projects, including formulation of new ice cream flavors and development of sustainable dairy processing methods.

6. Community and Cultural Impact

The Creamery is a beloved part of Penn State culture, famous among students, alumni, and visitors for its ice cream quality and variety.

It hosts special events and promotions tied to university milestones and sports celebrations.

The Creamery’s long-standing reputation enhances Penn State’s image as a leader in agricultural sciences and food innovation.

7. Sustainability and Sourcing

The Creamery emphasizes sourcing milk from local and regional farms committed to humane and sustainable dairy practices.

Efforts include waste reduction, energy-efficient equipment, and responsible packaging to minimize environmental impact.

Ongoing initiatives aim to improve supply chain transparency and reduce carbon footprint associated with dairy production.

8. Noteworthy Recognition

The Creamery’s products have won numerous awards, including top honors at the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest, notably for its Butter Pecan ice cream.

It is regularly featured in national and regional media as a model university-operated dairy producer.

Summary:
The Penn State Berkey Creamery blends a rich heritage dating back to 1865 with cutting-edge food science to produce high-quality, innovative dairy products. It serves as a living laboratory for student education, a research hub for dairy innovation, and a community landmark known for its exceptional ice cream and cheeses. Its commitment to tradition, quality, sustainability, and education makes it a unique institution both within Penn State and nationwide.