EXHIBIT 99.2

               CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
      as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Form 10-Q of Dean Foods Company (the "Company") for the
quarter ended September 30, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Barry A. Fromberg, Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, that the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section
13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


                                                    /s/ Barry A. Fromberg
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Barry A. Fromberg
                                                    Executive Vice President and
                                                    Chief Financial Officer
                                                    Date: November 14, 2002


Note: This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to Section 906 of the
      Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed filed, except to the
      extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, by the Company for
      purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.