In 1966, a company with a curious name appeared:
Erewhon Natural Foods. Ever since, people have been asking us two questions.  "How do you say that name? And what does it mean?" 

Our friends at U.S. Mills contacted us recently to ask “how can we tell the buying clubs about our company and our products?  We’re a great company with great products – how can we get the word out?”  So we invited them to tell the story, actually their first, second, third and most recent story – including the origins of that curious name “Erewhon” . . . “

A message to you from U.S. Mills

U.S. Mills, a small company in Needham, MA, has worked for nearly a century to create a family of healthy food brands that offers an array of products that appeal to a range of ages and tastes.  By adhering to the strictest standards of product quality and integrity, and by providing clear and consistent nutritional information on all of our packaging, U.S. Mills aims to educate and empower our consumers to make sound dietary decisions that support their personal health needs.

The First Story…

In 1966, a company with a curious name appeared: Erewhon Natural Foods. Ever since, people have been asking us two questions.  "How do you say that name? And what does it mean?" 

The name is pronounced AIR-whan. And its origin?  Well, Erewhon was a famous nineteenth century novel by Samuel Butler.  His title is an anagram made by rearranging the letters of the word nowhere.  In Butler's novel, Erewhon was a utopia in which it was a crime to be sick and everyone was responsible for his or her own health.

Our company founders believed that natural and organic foods play a key role in one's overall health and well-being.  Since the company was founded to make such foods readily available in everyday American life, the lofty Erewhon ideal was a fitting inspiration for the company name.

From its humble roots in Boston, Erewhon soon became the hallmark of the natural and organic foods industry.  We were the first company to create a Charter of Quality Standards for Natural Products.  With this guide for standards, you always know exactly what natural means regarding Erewhon products:

• No synthetic additives or preservatives

• No artificial flavors or colors

• No hydrogenated or solvent extracted oils

• No refined flour or sugar

• Only natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, and barley malt

Erewhon cereals comply with the USDA National Organic Program and are certified organic by Oregon Tilth.  In addition to being one of the cleanest lines of organic cereals, Erewhon also offers cereals that are suitable for those on a special diet such as gluten free, wheat free, low sodium or low fat. 

The Second Story…

Twenty years later, we were ready to expand cereal production.  We learned about U.S. Mills, Inc, a company in Omaha, Nebraska, that had started out as Uncle Sam Breakfast Food Company in 1908.  The company had been in Omaha ever since, making whole grain cereals, and changed its name to U.S. Mills about 60 years later.  It was a perfect fit - like Erewhon, Uncle Sam Cereal is all natural and unique - a blend of whole wheat flakes and crispy flaxseed.  We acquired U.S. Mills in 1986 and while Erewhon was retained as a brand name, U.S. Mills was adopted as the new corporate name. 

The Third Story…

In 1999, we acquired another well-known company in the natural foods marketplace, New Morning.  New Morning was the first cereal brand to introduce natural versions of popular mass-market cereals such as oat rings and fruit rings.  The New Morning cereals are designed for those who prefer a sweeter taste and are sweetened with organic evaporated cane juice.  New Morning also makes a line of graham crackers which includes traditional graham crackers, Graham-Wiches creme filled cookies, and Mini Bites Graham Snacks.  They are all made with organic grains and have no trans fats and no hydrogenated oils. All New Morning cereals and graham crackers are certified organic by Oregon Tilth.

And Finally...

At U.S. Mills, we are always looking for quality brands to offer our loyal consumers.  In 2001, we acquired another cereal legend:  Farina Creamy Hot Wheat Cereal.  First introduced by Pillsbury in 1898, this 100% natural hot wheat cereal is enriched with vitamins and iron that make it not only a healthy start to any day, but a wonderful cooking ingredient.

Regardless which of our cereals you choose, you are getting our commitment to natural cereals that spans a century.  We will continue to develop a superior family of brands that provides excellent nutritional value and enhancements for those wishing to pursue a healthy lifestyle.