The Bakery Where All Of Ben & Jerry's Brownies Are Made

Ben & Jerry's has become the beloved darling and rock 'n roll superstar of the ice cream world for its frequently-changing array of fan-favorite flavors. But, if you've never stopped to consider what exactly makes that pint in your hand so good, give it a thought.

Introducing: Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, New York. The ice cream giant gets all of its brownies from this one bakery — and it has since the 1980s (via Ben & Jerry's). If iconic flavors like Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Half Baked are your jam, you know what we're talking about here — they're packed with Greyston brownies). 

It may seem hard to believe, but Greyston's brownies aren't the only delicious thing about the bakery — and we aren't talking about desserts, either. As committed to turning out quality brownies as it is, Greyston Bakery is even more committed to inclusive hiring. Per its registered trademarked "Open Hiring" policy, Greyston Bakery doesn't conduct background checks, doesn't require a resume for application, and doesn't even call candidates in to interview. In fact, the company proclaims, "We don't hire people to bake brownies. We bake brownies to hire people." 

Here's how it came to be connected with Ben & Jerry's — and how both companies are acting on their shared values. 

Greyston was founded in 1982 by Bernie Glassman, a Zen Buddhist who wanted to help folks facing barriers to employment secure quality work. Fittingly, this aligns with co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield's own sociopolitical values — an arena about which the ice cream duo have been outspoken. In 1981, the pair handed out free ice cream at fellow-Vermont-native Bernie Sanders' victory rally, back when their now-massive company was a fledgling enterprise. "I've been scooping ice cream for Bernie for 40 years," said Ben Cohen, per CBS. In his own campaign, Bernie Sanders calls inclusive hiring an "organizational priority" that is "deeply connected to our mission, our success, and to serving the American people."

In 2020, the bakery rolled out the Greyston Employment Opportunity Center (GEOC), a platform for facilitating inclusive hiring both within and beyond the bakery. Already, Greyston has made impactful and lasting change in its community: The facility is a "Best for the World” Certified B Corporation and was the first Benefit Corporation in the state of New York (per Ben & Jerry's). But, with its new GEOC program in place, Greyston aims to provide employment opportunities to 40,000 workers by 2030. Hungry for change? Or ice cream? How about both?